Booth Id:
CHEM015
Category:
Chemistry
Year:
2026
Finalist Names:
Melancon, Madeleine (School: Carnegie Vanguard High School)
Abstract:
Controlled drug delivery systems can improve chemotherapy effectiveness while reducing side effects. This study investigated how pH and polymer coatings affect the release of doxorubicin from calcium - alginate beads. Beads were prepared with sodium alginate and calcium chloride, then left uncoated or coated with chitosan, polyethyleneimine ( PEI ) , or a combination of PEI and polyacrylamide ( PAA ) . Drug release was tested in citrate buffer ( pH 5 ) , phosphate - buffered saline ( PBS, pH 7 ) , and Tris buffer ( pH 9 ) . Uncoated beads released about 75% of doxorubicin within 4 hours at all pH levels, with the fastest release at pH 9 and slowest at pH 5. Polymer coatings slowed release across all pH values, with chitosan + alginate most effective at pH 5, PEI + alginate at pH 7, and PEI + PAA at pH 9. These results show that polymer - coated alginate beads provide pH - dependent, controlled drug release, demonstrating their potential for targeted chemotherapy and reduced harm to healthy cells.
Awards Won: