Title:Design of Cellulose Derivative and Alginate Based Smart Polymers to
Develop Stomach Specific Floating Drug Delivery System
Volume: 5
Issue: 2
Author(s): Vikrant Sharma*Jogindera Devi
Affiliation:
- Department of Chemistry, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Maharaja Agrasen University, Baddi (H.P.)-174103,
India
Keywords:
Fickian diffusion, floating beads, ranitidine, smart polymers, stomach specific drug delivery, GRDDSs.
Abstract:
Background: Polysaccharide based gastro-retentive drug delivery systems (GRDDSs) can
retain in the gastric fluid of stomach for a longer time and release the entrapped drug in a controlled
and localized manner, which can ensure optimal drug concentration at the site of action with improved
bioavailability and reduced side effects of acid-suppressive drugs like ranitidine.
Objective: The objective of the present study was to design smart polymers for gastro-retentive drug
delivery of ranitidine through ionic-gelation of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and sodium alginate
(ALG).
Methods: The optimal reaction conditions for the synthesis of beads were evaluated by varying reaction
parameters during synthesis and were obtained as CMC = 1.5% (w/v), ALG = 0.5% (w/v) and
CaCl2= 0.1 M with maximum equilibrium swelling ratio (2922.50 ± 0.90)%. The drug loading was
carried out by simultaneous and swelling equilibrium methods. Beads were characterized by SEM,
PXRD, FTIR, TGA, bead size and swelling studies.
Results: Increase in Ca2+ ions and ALG concentration resulted in a decrease in swelling capacity and
an increase in bead size. Beads got collapsed in phosphate buffer solution and swelling occurred
through the non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. Floating beads with (51.05 ± 0.25)% entrapment efficiency
for the simultaneous drug loading method exhibited the Fickian diffusion mechanism and best
fitted in the Higuchi model. The diffusion coefficient and initial rate of drug release in simulated gastric
fluid demonstrated swelling controlled gastro-retentive release of ranitidine.
Conclusion: These smart polymeric beads have the potential to use as a promising candidate for the
design of GRDDSs for the treatment of gastric ulceration and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
