Effect of Glycolipid Biosurfactant on Drug Release Behaviour Performance of a T-Shaped Microfluidic Junction Device Technique Engineered Lidocaine-Encapsulated Alginate Hydrogel Formulations: Methodologic Study

Objective: This study aimed to develop and characterize lidocaineloaded sodium alginate hydrogels produced using a T-shaped microfluidic junction (TMJ) device and to evaluate the effect of glycolipid biosurfactants on drug release behavior. Material and Methods: Hydrogels were prepared using both conventional manual mixing and TMJ-based microfluidic techniques with sodium alginate concentrations ranging from 0.5% to 1.5%. Formulations contained 5% lidocaine and 0.25% polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) as a co-solvent. Selected formulations incorporated 1-2% glycolipid biosurfactants. Physicochemical properties, including viscosity, surface tension, and swelling behavior, were evaluated, while structural characterization was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In vitro drug release studies were conducted using USP Apparatus 5 under controlled conditions. Results: Formulations ML5 and ML7, containing 1-2% glycolipids, exhibited significantly enhanced lidocaine release, with approximately 10-20% higher dissolution rates compared to glycolipid-free formulations. In contrast, post-loaded formulations (ML9-ML10) showed 8-10% slower release despite the presence of glycolipids, indicating less efficient drug distribution. The TMJ system enabled the formation of uniform microbubbles via capillary-driven flow, resulting in a more homogeneous internal structure and improved drug release performance. Conclusion: The TMJ-based microfluidic technique enables reproducible fabrication of structurally uniform hydrogels. The optimized 1% alginate formulations (ML5 and ML7) demonstrated a burst release followed by a sustained release profile, suggesting their potential as effective candidates for transdermal lidocaine delivery systems.