ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 40, Number 9
JKCSEZ 40(9)
June 20, 1996 

Crosslinked chitosan was prepared from chitin after reaction with epichlorohydrin followed by deacetylation at C2-position. Epidermal releasing polymeric matrix was prepared after swelling crosslinked chitosan with distilled water and adding silver sulfadiazine and glycerine as a plasticiser. The release behavior of silver sulfadiazine from polymeric matrix was studied in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution by varing the drug content, glycerine concentration, and the thickness of the matrix. The drug release time was delayed by increasing the content of silver sulfadiazine and the thickness of the matrix, whereas decreased as glycerine concentration increased. The apparent constant(K) of release rate was independent upon the matrix thickness, but was proportional to the content of drug or glycerine of crosslinked chitosan matrix. These results indicated that chitosan matrix showed some potential as a drug delivery system for transdermal therapeutic application.