Formulation and Characterization of Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogel Bead as Drug Carrier System for Extended Release of Sulphonyl Urea Medication

Purpose

The study aims to develop an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel bead. This drug carrier system with a hydrophilic polymer is designed through an ionotropic gelation technique using divalent calcium ions as a crosslinking agent. The resultant polymeric composite extends the release of the short-acting oral sulfonylurea drug, glipizide.

Methods

The IPN hydrogel beads prepared with more than one polymer bring forth better mechanical strength in contrast to a single polymeric-based network hydrogel system. This hydrogel bead of hydrophilic sodium alginate (SAL), the concentration of which ranges from 1.5 to 2.0% w/w, and xanthan gum (XAG) polymer, whose concentration ranges between 0.5 and 1.0% w/w, has been prepared to control the drug release profile. An ionotropic gelation technique with the crosslinking agent, calcium chloride at 2.5–7.5% w/w concentration, was adopted to prepare the IPN hydrogel bead drug carrier.

Results

The prepared hydrogel bead was studied for viscosity analysis of prepared composite dispersion, particle size, drug entrapment, swelling functions, and in vitro drug dissolution. An increase in xanthan gum quantity levels resulted in increased viscosity of prepared composite dispersions and hence the increased mean diameter of produced IPN hydrogel beads. Increased crosslinker concentration showed a slightly smaller IPN hydrogel bead mean diameter and increased encapsulation of loaded drug to about 88 to 91% glipizide. The in vitro drug dissolution was observed to be slower with increased xanthan gum polymer and calcium ion crosslinker concentration, which extended the drug release to 14 h. Thus, this work demonstrates that the XAG and calcium ion crosslinkers play a significant role in controlling the release of the loaded drug, glipizide.

Conclusion

Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the prepared novel polymeric-based IPN drug carrier system has beneficially controlled the drug release of short-acting oral sulphonyl medication and acted as an extended drug release system.