PIOGLITAZONE LOADED CHITOSAN HYDROGEL BEADS: FABRICATION AND IN-VITRO CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract

The objective of the present research work is to formulate pioglitazone loaded chitosan polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) hydrogel beads by ionotropic gelation technique using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) as an ionic cross linking agent. These PEC hydrogel systems are based upon the fact that their biodegradable polymeric network can capture the drug to release in a sustained manner. Different formulations of pioglitazone loaded microbeads were characterized for particle size, surface texture analysis, drug entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug release studies and kinetics and in vitro mucoadhesion test etc. The optimized formulation was found to be spherical with rough surface, free flowing and white in colour. The particle size range was found to be from 570±33.60µm to 705±34.44µm with entrapment efficiency in the range of 64.51±1.44% to 88.23±1.35%. The optimized formulation showed a better release profile of 84.39% among all the five formulations at the end of 12 h and follows Higuchi release kinetics. Thus, it can be concluded that the Pioglitazone loaded chitosan microbeads could be productively formulated by ionotropic gelation technique with high entrapment efficiency and prolonged release characteristics.