Development of Bigels Based on Date Palm-Derived Cellulose Nanocrystal-Reinforced Guar Gum Hydrogel and Sesame Oil/Candelilla Wax Oleogel as Delivery Vehicles for Moxifloxacin

Abstract

Bigels are biphasic semisolid systems that have been explored as delivery vehicles in the food and pharmaceutical industries. These formulations are highly stable and have a longer shelf-life than emulsions. Similarly, cellulose-based hydrogels are considered to be ideal for these formulations due to their biocompatibility and flexibility to mold into various shapes. Accordingly, in the present study, the properties of an optimized guar gum hydrogel and sesame oil/candelilla wax oleogel-based bigel were tailored using date palm-derived cellulose nanocrystals (dp-CNC). These bigels were then explored as carriers for the bioactive molecule moxifloxacin hydrochloride (MH). The preparation of the bigels was achieved by mixing guar gum hydrogel and sesame oil/candelilla wax oleogel. Polarizing microscopy suggested the formation of the hydrogel-in-oleogel type of bigels. An alteration in the dp-CNC content affected the size distribution of the hydrogel phase within the oleogel phase. The colorimetry studies revealed the yellowish-white color of the samples. There were no significant changes in the FTIR functional group positions even after the addition of dp-CNC. In general, the incorporation of dp-CNC resulted in a decrease in the impedance values, except BG3 that had 15 mg dp-CNC in 20 g bigel. The BG3 formulation showed the highest firmness and fluidity. The release of MH from the bigels was quasi-Fickian diffusion mediated. BG3 showed the highest release of the drug. In summary, dp-CNC can be used as a novel reinforcing agent for bigels.

Effect of Potato Starch Hydrogel:Glycerol Monostearate Oleogel Ratio on the Physico-Rheological Properties of Bigels

“…The polarized light micrographs of the BGs are presented in Figure 2 . Fat crystals, represented in this study by the O-phase, are birefringent as they diffract light, making them perform brighter under polarizing microscopy [ 33 ]; whereas H are amorphous structures and appear as darker objects under polarizing microscopy [ 24 , 25 ]. Therefore, in this study, the darker points consist of the potato starch (PS) hydrogel while the brighter points consist of the glycerol monostearate (GM) oleogel.…”

Bigels as Delivery Systems: Potential Uses and Applicability in Food

“…Drug release was also diffusion-mediated in this case, and swelling was impeded in the bigel compared to a separate hydrogel [ 33 ]. The inclusion of date palm-derived cellulose nano-crystals in a guar gum hydrogel/candelilla wax and sesame oil oleogel bigel (loaded with moxifloxacin HCl) altered the physical and biochemical properties of the bigel [ 61 ]. Increasing nano-crystal concentration increased the firmness of the bigel, and changed the drug release profile in a non-dose dependent manner, indicating that the inclusion of nano-crystals or other fillers could aid in fine-tuning the delivery systems [ 59 ].…”

Editorial on the Special Issue “Advances in Cellulose-Based Hydrogels”

“…Interestingly, HMPC gelation ensured a faster release of AAP, which could be beneficial for potential orodispersible drug delivery applications. Shaik et al [ 7 ] reported an oleogel-based bigel derived from a guar gum hydrogel and a sesame oil/candelilla wax, which they further tailored using date palm-derived cellulose nanocrystals (dp-CNC). The addition of dp-CNC as a novel reinforcing agent allowed these bigels to act as carriers of moxifloxacin hydrochloride (MH).…”