Effect of PEG–salt mixture on the gelation temperature and morphology of MC gel for sustained delivery of drug

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2013-01, Vol.91 (2), p.529-536
• Main Authors: Bain, Mrinal Kanti, Maity, Dipanwita, Bhowmick, Biplab, Mondal, Dibyendu, Mollick, Md. Masud Rahaman, Sarkar, Gunjan, Bhowmik, Manas, Rana, Dipak, Chattopadhyay, Dipankar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Cellulose and derivatives; Citrates - chemistry; Citrates - pharmacology; Drug Carriers - chemistry; drugs; Exact sciences and technology; gelatinization temperature; Gelation temperature; Gels; General pharmacology; hydrocolloids; Hydrogels - chemistry; Kinetics; Medical sciences; Methylcellulose - chemistry; Natural polymers; Ophthalmic Solutions - chemistry; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polyethylene glycol (PEG); Polyethylene Glycols - pharmacology; Salts out salts; scanning electron microscopy; sodium citrate; Surface topography; Tartrates - chemistry; Temperature; Viscosity
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.08.040

► Two salt out salts (NaT and NaC) were added to the MC–PEG solution to reduce the gelation temperature close to physiological temperature. ► UV–vis spectroscopy, viscometry and rheometry were used to measure the gelation temperature of all solutions. ► The surface topography and cross-sectional structure of the freeze-dried samples of hydrogels were examined. ► In vitro drug release studies showed that drug release time increased from 6 to 9h by only changing the salt from NaT to NaC. ► Release of the drug is correlated with the gel morphology. Gelation temperature of MC was reduced from 59°C to 54°C with the addition of 10% PEG. Sodium tartrate (NaT) and sodium citrate (NaC) were added to the MC–PEG solution to further reduce the gelation temperature close to physiological temperature. Different techniques were used to measure the gelation temperature of all formulations. It was observed that NaC was more effective in reducing the gelation temperature of MC–PEG combination than NaT. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) images of hydrogels containing NaC and NaT showed that NaC containing hydrogel having an interconnected microporous structure instead of the hollow rod like structure as in the case of NaT containing hydrogel. In vitro drug release studies showed that drug release time increased from 6 to 9h by only changing the type of salt from NaT to NaC in MC–PEG combination.