The Effect of Thermal-Treating on Drug Release from Sustained Release Alginate-Eudragit RS Matrices

• Published in: Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 318 - 326
• Main Authors: Kaffash, Ehsan, Abbaspour, Mohammadreza, Afrasiabi Garekani, Hadi, Jahanian, Zohreh, Saremnejad, Farinaz, Akhgari, Abbas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Iran Tabriz University of Medical Sciences 01.02.2021
• Subjects: 5-aminosalicylic acid; Acids; alginate; calcium; curing; Drug delivery systems; eudragit® rs; Inflammatory bowel disease; pellet; Scanning electron microscopy; Iran; India; Curing; Eudragit® RS; Pellet; Alginate; Calcium; 5-aminosalicylic acid
• ISSN: 2228-5881; 2251-7308
• DOI: 10.34172/apb.2021.027

The main objective of the present study was to develop the colonic delivery system for 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) as an anti-inflammatory drug. Matrix pellets containing various proportions of alginate, calcium and Eudragit RS were prepared by extrusion-spheronization technique. Thermal treatment was used to investigate the effect of the curing process on the surface morphology, mechanical and physicochemical properties and drug release profile of pellets. Based on the obtained results optimal formulations were selected to coating by the Eudragit RS and subjected to a subsequent continuous dissolution test. Image analysis and also scanning electron microscopy results proved acceptable morphology of the pellets. The fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry studies ruled out any interactions between the formulation's components. Curing process did not alter the mechanical properties of pellets. The release rate of the drug from matrices was prolonged due to the decreased porosity of cured pellets. Furthermore, selected cured pellets which coated with Eudragit RS, prevented undesired premature drug release. Formulation containing 17.5% calcium, 17.5% alginate, and a coating level of 10% demonstrated enhanced drug release so that provided resistance to acidic conditions, allowing complete drug release in alkaline pH, mimicking colonic environment. The slow and consistent drug release from this formulation could be used for treatment of a broader range of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients especially in whom colonic pH levels have been measured at lower than pH 7.0.