Pectin-chitosan hydrogel spheres loaded with fungal extracts

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The design of effective oral delivery systems represents a significant challenge in the biopharmaceutical field. In this study, hydrogel spheres were developed based on a polyelectrolyte matrix of chitosan and pectin, with the incorporation of extracts from three species of fungi with therapeutical benefits. FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed the successful incorporation and uniform dispersion of the extracts within a predominantly amorphous polymeric matrix. Mechanical tests demonstrated high elasticity and robustness, ensuring the structural integrity of the system. Furthermore, the matrices exhibited a controlled release through a pH-switch mechanism and mucoadhesive properties. These results demonstrate the development of stable and reproducible systems capable of providing an efficient delivery of bioactive fungal extracts.