Evaluation of Sterculiaurens Gum As Novel Carrier For Oral Colon Targeted Drug Delivery System - Evaluation of Sterculiaurens Gum As Novel Carrier For Oral Colon Targeted Drug Delivery System - Open Access Pub

The purpose of the research is to evaluate Sterculiaurens gum as a carrier for oral colon targeted drug delivery system. Sterculia gum has been reported to have wide pharmaceutical applications such as tablet binder, disintegrant, gelling agent and as a controlled release polymer, but it has not been exploited as colon targeting carrier. For evaluation as a carrier for colonic delivery of drugs characterization of gum was done. Microflora degradation studies of gum were conducted in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) pH 7.4 containing rat caecal content under anaerobic environment. Solubility, swelling index, viscosity and pH of the polymer solution were determined. Different formulation aspects considered were: gum concentration (10–40%), concentration of citric acid (10–30 %) on swelling index and in-vitro drug release. The results of the isothermal stress testing (IST) shows no degradation of samples of model drug, azathioprine, in the drug polymer mixture and the core tablet excipients. DSC and FT-IR study has proved the compatibility of the drug with Sterculia gum and other tablet excipients. Microflora degradation study revealed that Sterculia gum can be used as tablet excipient for drug release in the colonic region by utilizing the action of enterobacteria. Sterculia gum exhibits premature drug release in the upper GIT without enteric coating and may not reach to the colonic region. From the study, Sterculia gum as colon targeting carrier is possible via coating with chitosan/Eudragit mixed blend polymers which would provide acid as well as intestinal resistance; but undergo enzymatic degradation once it reaches the colon. DOI10.14302/issn.2328-0182.japst-12-119 In the recent times, technologies for development of colon targeted drug delivery system have utilized one or two (in combination) of the following primary approaches, with varying degrees of success: (1) pH-dependent systems, (2) time-dependent systems, (3) pro-drugs, and (4) colonic microflora-activated systems 1, 2. Among the different approaches utilized to achieve colon specific drug delivery system, the use of polymers specifically degraded by colonic bacterial enzymes (such as β-glucoronidase, β-xylosidase, β-galactosidase, azoreductase etc.) holds promise 3, 4.Most of these systems are based on the fact that anaerobic bacteria in the colon are able to recognize the various substrates and degrade them with their enzymes 5. Natural gums are often preferred to synthetic materials due to their low-toxicity, low-cost, and easy availability. A number of colon-targeted delivery systems