Isolation and Characterization of Dillenia Fruit Mucilage: A Novel Polymer for Microspheric Delivery of Losartan Potassium

Abstract

Objective: The present investigation was aimed to isolate, characterize and establish a natural polymer obtained from partially ripe and fresh fruits of Dillenia indica and its utility to deliver losartan potassium in a sustain manner from microspheric macromolecular dosage form. Methods: All the microspheres were prepared by ionotropic gelation technique and investigated for various physicochemical parameters along with in-vitro drug release studies to optimize the concentration of algino-Dillenia polymeric blend required to develop twice daily sustain release dosage form of losartan potassium. Results: The functional characteristic studies and rheological behavior analysis suggested that extracted polysaccharide can be used as a viscosity modifying agent as well as sustain release ingredient. All the microsphere formulations exhibited excellent mucoadhesion properties and site specific drug release. In-vitro studies revealed that optimum concentration of algino-Dillenia polymeric blend is suitable to deliver losartan potassium in a sustain manner for prolong period of time. SEM study revealed that the microspheres were spherical in shape with smooth outer surface having small cracks. XRD and DSC studies revealed that losartan potassium is present as an amorphous form in the prepared optimized microsphere formulation. Conclusion: Thus, the present studies demonstrated that Dillenia fruit mucilage has an interesting rheological behavior which may be used as a viscosity modifying agent and exhibit promising properties of a sustain release dosage form to deliver losartan potassium from its microspheric dosage form.