Simulating a Controlled Drug Delivery System

In this activity, students will learn about alternative drug delivery methods and then prepare a controlled drug delivery system using sodium alginate and glucose to mimic the behavior of a controlled release drug delivery system. The purpose of this investigation is to model a controlled drug delivery system by demonstrating the rate of glucose release from alginate capsules.  Students will determine the rate of diffusion through an alginate membrane, graphically represent the system, and describe how this delivery system is an appropriate model for modern drug delivery systems.