Stomach specific anti-helicobacter pylori therapy: preparation and evaluation of amoxicillin-loaded chitosan mucoadhesive microspheres.

The purpose of this research was to formulate and systematically evaluate in vitro and in vivo performances of mucoadhesive amoxicillin microspheres for the potential use of treating gastric and duodenal ulcers, which were associated with Helicobacter pylori. Amoxicillin mucoadhesive microspheres containing chitosan as mucoadhesive polymer were prepared by simple emulsification phase separation technique using glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent. Results of preliminary trials indicate that volume of cross-linking agent, time for cross-linking, polymer-to-drug ratio, and speed of rotation affected characteristics of microspheres. Microspheres were discrete, spherical, free flowing and also showed high percentage drug entrapment efficiency. In vitro mucoadhesive test showed that amoxicillin mucoadhesive microspheres adhered more strongly to gastric mucous layer and could retain in gastrointestinal tract for an extended period of time. A 3(2) full factorial design was employed to study the effect of independent variables, polymer-to-drug ratio (X(1)), and stirring speed (X(2)) on dependent variables i.e. percentage mucoadhesion, t(80), drug entrapment efficiency, particle size and swelling index. The best batch exhibited a high drug entrapment efficiency of 70 % and a swelling index of 1.39; percentage mucoadhesion after 1 h was 79 %. The drug release was also sustained for more than 12 h. The polymer-to-drug ratio had a more significant effect on the dependent variables. The morphological characteristics of the mucoadhesive microspheres were studied using scanning electron microscopy. In vitro release test showed that amoxicillin released slightly faster in pH 1.0 hydrochloric acid than in pH 7.8 phosphate buffer. In vivo H. pylori clearance tests were also carried out by administering amoxicillin mucoadhesive microspheres and powder, to H. pylori infectious Wistar rats under fed conditions at single dose or multiple dose(s) in oral administration. The results showed that amoxicillin mucoadhesive microspheres had a better clearance effect than amoxicillin powder. In conclusion, the prolonged gastrointestinal residence time and enhanced amoxicillin stability resulting from the mucoadhesive microspheres of amoxicillin might make contribution complete eradication of H. pylori.