At higher temperature of calcium chloride solution more spherical beads were
obtained (Fig. 1b). As mentioned above, the bead shape could be affected by drug
content (lower drug content at higher temperature was observed (data not shown))
as well as by degree of alginate crosslinking. Since in our case the hardening time
was constant, it is assumed that the rate of alginate crosslinking was also affected
by the temperature. Better sphericity at higher temperature of calcium chloride
solution was therefore probably due to faster and thus more thorough alginate
crosslinking and lower drug conten