Development and Evaluation of a New Interpenetrating Network Bead of Sodium Carboxymethyl Xanthan and Sodium Alginate

Rajat Ray,Biswanath Sa,Siddhartha Maity,Sanchita Mandal,Tapan K Chatterjee

doi:10.4236/pp.2010.11002

Abstract

Interpenetrating network (IPN) beads of sodium carboxymethyl xanthan (SCMX) and sodium alginate (SAL) were pre-pared by ionotropic gelation process using AlCl3 as a cross-linking agent. The effect of different formulation vari-ables like total polymer concentration, gelation time, concentration of cross-linking agent, and drug load on the extent of release of ibuprofen (IBP), a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was examined. The formation of IPN structure was examined using Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) analysis and the compatibility of the drug in the bead was evaluated through FTIR, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analyses. While increase in the concentration of total polymer, gelation time, and drug load decreased the drug release in both acidic (pH-1.2) and phosphate buffer (PB) solution (pH-6.8), increase in the concentration of cross-linking agent tended to increase the drug release. However, from all the formulations, the drug release in acidic medium was considerably slow and a maximum 14% of the loaded drug was released in 2 h. Complete drug release was achieved in PB solution within 210 to 330 min depending upon the formulation variables. The release of the drug followed non-Fickian transport process in acidic medium and case-II transport mechanism in PB solution and these release behaviour correlated well with the kinetics of dynamic swelling of IPN beads. The study indicated that the IPN beads of SCMX and SAL could be a suitable dosage form to minimize the drug release in acidic solution and to control the drug release in PB solution depending upon the need.

Highlights

Among the most abundant natural polymers, polysaccharides are widely used in pharmaceutical dosage forms as excipients like suspending agents, emulsifying agents, tablet binders, gelling agents
Interpenetrating network (IPN) beads composed of sodium carboxymethyl xanthan (SCMX) and sodium alginate (SAL) were prepared by inotropic gelation process using AlCl3 as a common cross-linking agent for both the polymers
Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectrum of SCMX showed the presence of bands corresponding to asymmetric and symmetric carboxylate anions at respectively 1605 cm-1 and 1419 cm-1, a broad band at 3419 cm-1 corresponding to stretching vibration of hydroxyl group, a peak at 1327 cm-1 corresponding to C = O stretching of carboxymethyl group

Summary

Introduction

Among the most abundant natural polymers, polysaccharides are widely used in pharmaceutical dosage forms as excipients like suspending agents, emulsifying agents, tablet binders, gelling agents. With the advent of macromolecular chemistry, the use of polysaccharides has been extended towards new applications in pharmaceutical, biomedical, and agricultural fields. Naturally available polysaccharides exhibit certain limitations in terms of their reactivity and processibility, these can be overcome by modification of the polysaccharides through either physical or chemical cross-linking, grafting with other materials and developing hydrogels or interpenetrating network(IPN) structures. Since the homopolymers alone can not meet divergent demand in terms of properties and performances, development of IPN appears to be a better approach [1] and one of the easiest ways for modification of the properties of polysaccharides. IPNs are emerging as a rapidly developing branch of polymer blended technology and are finding applications in artificial implants, dialysis, membranes, drug delivery systems [4], and in agricultural field [5]

Objectives

Results

Conclusion