A MUCOADHESIVE MICROSPHERE-BASED APPROACH FOR CONTROLLED DELIVERY OF METFORMIN HYDROCHLORIDE
Keywords:
Guar Gum, Metformin Hydrochloride, Mucoadhesive Microspheres, Sodium Alginate, Xanthan GumAbstract
Objectives: The present study aimed to develop gastro-retentive microspheres of Metformin hydrochloride (HCl) using sodium alginate in combination with natural polymers, xanthan gum and guar gum, to prolong gastric residence and achieve controlled drug release.
Methods: Six formulations were prepared by ionic gelation using varying drug-to-polymer ratios and evaluated for drug loading efficiency, entrapment efficiency, particle size, morphology, swelling behavior, in vitro drug release, and stability.
Results: Drug loading efficiency ranged from 77.70% to 90.35%, while entrapment efficiency varied from 83.60% to 98.16%. The microspheres were predominantly spherical, with particle sizes ranging from 22.42 to 29.12 µm. The swelling index ranged from 41.29% to 60.37%. In simulated gastric fluid, XG-3 exhibited 9.01% drug release, whereas GG-3 showed 93.40%, demonstrating the influence of polymer type and concentration on drug-release behavior. Stability studies indicated that the microspheres maintained their physical integrity and performance during storage.
Conclusions: The developed Metformin HCl microspheres exhibited satisfactory physicochemical characteristics and demonstrated potential as a gastro-retentive controlled-release drug delivery system for improved diabetes management.