The aim of the present work is fabrication of dual cross linked sodium alginate (SA)/montmorillonite (MMT) microbeads as a potential drug vehicle for extended release of curcumin (CUR). The microbeads were prepared using in situ ion-exchange followed by simple ionotropic gelation technique. The developed beads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (X-RD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of MMT on encapsulation efficiency of CUR and intercalation kinetics was investigated. Dynamic swelling study and in vitro release study were investigated in simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.4) and simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) at 37 °C. Results suggested that both the swelling and in vitro release studies were influenced by the pH of test media, which might be suitable for intestinal drug delivery. The release mechanism was analyzed by fitting the release data into Korsmeyer-Peppas equation.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to fabricate and evaluate the drug release studies using Sodium Alginate (SA) and Gelatin (GE) microbeads intercalated with Kaolin (KA) nanoclay for sustained release of D-Penicillamine (D-PA). Methods: Sodium alginate/gelatin/Kaolin blend microbeads were prepared by an extrusion method by using glutaraldehyde (GA) as a crosslinker. The obtained microbeads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X–ray diffraction (XRD). Drug release kinetics of the microbeads was investigated in simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.4) at 37 °C. Results: Microbeads formation was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. X-RD reveals that the KA should be intercalated with the drug and also it confirms the molecular level dispersion of D-Penicillamine into microbeads. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies reveal that the beads were in spherical shape with some wrinkled depressions on the surface. The in vitro release study indicates the D-Penicillamine released in a controlled manner. The in vitro release kinetics was assessed by Korsmeyer-Peppas equation and the ‘n’ value lies in between 0.557-0.693 indicates Non-Fickian diffusion process. Conclusion: The results suggest that the developed KA intercalated microbeads are good potential drug carrier for the controlled release of D-PA.

The aim of the present work is fabrication of gelatin (GL) coated dual cross‐linked sodium alginate (SA)/magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) microbeads as potential drug vehicle for extended release of doxorubicin (DOX). The microbeads were prepared using in situ ion‐exchange followed by simple ionotropic gelation technique. The developed beads were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Swelling studies and in vitro release studies were investigated in pH 1.2, 5.0 and 7.4 at 37 °C. Results suggested that both the swelling and in vitro release studies were influenced by the pH of test media, which might be suitable for intestinal drug delivery. The release mechanism was analyzed by fitting the release data into Korsmeyer‐Peppas equation. The results suggest that the fabricated DOX loaded compounds are good drug delivery carriers for drug delivery applications.

Objective: The objective of this study was to formulate and evaluate the drug release studies using locust bean gum (LBG) and sodium alginate (NaAlg) and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde for the controlled release (CR) of Nimesulide, an anti-inflammatory drug.Methods: Locust bean gum (LBG) and sodium alginate (NaAlg) blend hydrogel beads were prepared by an extrusion method using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker. Nimesulide an anti-inflammatory drug was encapsulation within LBG/NaAlg blend hydrogel beads. Morphology, size, encapsulation efficiency and drug release from these hydrogel beads were evaluated by different characterization techniques such as fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (X-RD) studies.Results: Drug-loaded hydrogel beads were analyzed by FTIR, which indicates the interaction between drug and polymers. DSC thermograms on drug-loaded microbeads confirmed the polymorphism of Nimesulide and indicated a molecular level dispersion of the drug in the hydrogel beads. SEM confirmed the spherical nature and rough surface of the hydrogel beads produced. X-RD study was performed to understand the crystalline nature of drug after encapsulated into the hydrogel beads and confirmed the complete dispersion of the drug in the polymer matrix. In vitro release studies conducted in pH-7.4 which indicated a dependence of release rate on the amount of drug loading and the amount of LBG/NaAlg, but slow release rates were extended up to 48 h. The cumulative release data were fitted to an empirical equation to compute diffusion exponent (n) which indicated the non-fickian trend for drug release. Conclusion:These results clearly demonstrated that the ability of these newly developed hydrogel beads containing Nimesulide for its sustained release could possibly be advantageous to patient compliance with reduced dosing interval.

This article reports the fabrication of pH-sensitive microbeads from sodium alginate (SA) and modified karaya gum (KG). KG was modified by graft copolymerization using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA) through in situ free radical polymerization reaction. The graft copolymer was blended with SA to develop microbeads by a simple ionotropic gelation technique. The microbeads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of %HEMA and polymer blend ratio on the swelling capacity was investigated. Drug release kinetics of the microbeads was investigated under both pH 7.4 and pH 1.2 at 37°C. The drug release kinetics was analyzed by evaluating the release data using different kinetic models.