Physicochemical properties of magnesium aluminum silicate (smectone®) gels prepared using electrolytic-reduction ion water (2): Effects of various salts on the phase diagram

We produced gels using electrolytic-reduction ion water and magnesium aluminum silicates (smectone®), and evaluated in detail gel properties in the presence of various types of salt (NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, and AlCl3). Each salt was added to deionized-distilled water or electrolytic-reduction ion water, and phase diagrams for the smectone® concentration (2.0–4.0%) were produced. The areas of the three phases of smectone® (gel, sol, and separation) at each salt concentration were expressed as percentages of the total area. As a result, uni- and polyvalent cations (excluding Ca2+ ions) affected the stability of gels produced using electrolytic-reduction ion water, and, particularly, univalent cations (Na+, K+) markedly improved gel stability.Using electrolytic-reduction ion water as a dispersal medium, drug delivery systems (DDS) that can maintain the gelling state can be prepared. Thus, gel preparations with maintained functions or controlled-release transdermal drugs can be obtained.