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Published on: July 4, 2014
Oxycellulose beads with drug exhibiting pH-dependent solubility
Martina Bajerová1, Kateřina Krejčová, Miloslava Rabišková
1Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Czech Republic. martina.bajerova@seznam.cz
Novel hydrogel beads made of oxycellulose were developed for targeted drug delivery to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These beads effectively encapsulated and released diclofenac sodium over 12-16 hours, showing potential for distal GI drug delivery.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Drug delivery systems are crucial for enhancing therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance.
- Targeting specific regions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract requires sophisticated delivery vehicles.
- Hydrogels offer promising properties for controlled drug release applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize novel hydrogel-based beads for targeted drug delivery.
- To evaluate the potential of these beads for releasing drugs with pH-dependent solubility in the distal GI tract.
- To investigate the drug-polymer interactions and release kinetics of diclofenac sodium from oxycellulose beads.
Main Methods:
- Oxycellulose beads containing diclofenac sodium were prepared using ionotropic external gelation with calcium chloride.
- Characterization included particle size, sphericity, encapsulation efficiency, swelling studies, and in vitro drug release.
- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze drug-polymer interactions.
Main Results:
- Particle size ranged from 0.92-1.60 mm, with sphericity between 0.70-0.81.
- Encapsulation efficiency was between 58% and 65%.
- Drug release occurred over 12-16 hours after a 4-hour lag time, with Fickian diffusion as the primary release mechanism.
Conclusions:
- The developed oxycellulose hydrogel beads demonstrate significant potential for targeted drug delivery to the distal GI tract.
- The system is suitable for drugs with pH-dependent solubility, like diclofenac sodium.
- Controlled release profiles and Fickian diffusion suggest effective drug localization and release.
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