Abstract
Silk fibroin gel (SFG) containing benfotiamine (BTMP) was prepared. The release behavior of BTMP from SFG was studied as a function of silk fibroin (SF) content and glycerol content, and the influence of the existence of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on the physicochemical properties of SFG were investigated. The release rate of BTMP from SFG was retarded by an increase in SF concentration. The addition of β-CD affected both the release properties and rheological properties of the SFG. It was found from the results of the "paddle-bead method" that the release profiles of BTMP from SFG were inversely proportional to the SFG firmness.