Novel etherified locust bean gum-alginate hydrogels for controlled release of glipizide.

On many occasions, homopolysaccharide hydrogel networks alone are not suitable for controlled drug delivery. In this study, interpenetrating networks (IPNs) of sodium alginate (ALG) and etherified locust bean gum (ELBG) were developed through ionotropic gelation with Al(3+) ions, tested for glipizide release, and were compared with homopolymer hydrogel networks. The degree of reticulation in IPNs was explained by the neutralization equivalent, tensile strength measurement, and drying kinetics of drug-free hydrogels. IPNs afforded a maximum of 94.40 ± 0.35% drug entrapment efficiency and exhibited slower drug release profiles up to 8 h. Al(3+)-ALG network almost completed the release of embedded drug in 3.5 h; however, the homopolymer Al(3+)-ELBG network discharged their content at a slow, uniform rate up to 8 h like the IPNs. All the networks appeared spherical under scanning electron microscope. In all cases, a faster drug release rate was assumed in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) than in KCl/HCl buffer (pH 1.2) solution. The pH-responsive swelling of the beads was responsible for the variable drug release rate in different media. NonFickian diffusion mechanism was operative for the transport of drug from the IPNs. Moreover, IPNs gained appreciation for their better mechanical strength (63.79 ± 1.59 MPa) than Al(3+)-ELBG network. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction analyses indicated a compatible environment for drug encapsualtion and release from the IPNs. The drug release curves of Al(3+)-ELBG and IPNs were found similar to a reference product. Hence, Al(3+)-ELBG and IPNs could be useful in controlling diabetes over longer periods.