Date of Award

2007

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Department

Chemical Engineering

First Advisor

Derick Rousseau

Second Advisor

Darrick Heyd

Abstract

The aim of this thesis was to develop gelatin-based thin films that may be used as matrices for the controlled release of bioactive compounds. There were three objectives to this research: i) develop a method to generate the thin films ii) experimentally quantify the release of a fluorescent marker from these films, and iii) implement a mathematical model to characterize the release of the fluorescent marker. To achieve the first objective, a novel method of developing thin films was implemented where sub-micron thickness films affixed to standard glass slides were crosslinked with genipin, a naturally-occurring fixative. Gel thickness measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM) varied from 350 to 650 nm irrespective of the concentration of genifin added. AFM-based surface roughness decreased with increasing genipin concentration. Release behavior of a fluorescent marker from the thin films demonstrated a strong influence of genipin concentration on release kinetics, with greater genipin leading to slower release. A mathematical model for the water transport into, and fluorescent marker release from, the genipin-crosslinked gelatin films was developed and successfully implemented with both the water ingress (swelling) and marker release being effectively characterized by the model.


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