Multiparticulate chitosan-dispersed system for drug delivery

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Materials Science

Background:

• Developing effective drug delivery systems is crucial for targeted therapy.
• Chitosan-based systems offer potential for controlled and site-specific drug release.
• Multiparticulate systems can improve drug distribution and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a multiparticulate chitosan-dispersed system (CDS) for controlled drug release.
• To investigate the potential of CDS for both sustained drug release and colon-specific delivery.
• To evaluate the impact of formulation parameters on drug release kinetics.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of multiparticulate CDS pellets with a drug reservoir and a chitosan-dispersed release-regulating layer.
• Characterization of pellet composition and drug loading.
• In vitro drug release studies across different pH conditions simulating the gastrointestinal tract.
• Evaluation of enteric-coated CDS (E-CDS) for colon-specific delivery.

Main Results:

• CDS pellets demonstrated drug release in the stomach, small intestine, and colon.
• The release rate was controllable by adjusting the thickness of the chitosan-dispersed water-insoluble layer.
• Enteric coating of CDS pellets (E-CDS) successfully prevented premature drug release in the stomach, enabling colon-specific delivery.
• The system showed potential for sustained drug release over extended periods.

Conclusions:

• Multiparticulate chitosan-dispersed systems are effective for achieving both sustained and colon-specific drug delivery.
• Formulation design, including layer thickness and enteric coating, allows for precise control over drug release profiles.
• CDS technology offers a versatile platform for advanced oral drug delivery applications.