Microsphere formulations of ambroxol hydrochloride: influence of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) mucilage as a sustained release polymer

Abstract

Ambroxol hydrochloride (AH), a secretion-releasing expectorant, is a good candidate for sustained delivery. Mucilages are biodegradable, inexpensive carriers in microsphere formulations. The study aimed to prepare microspheres of AH using Okra mucilage obtained from pods of Abelmoschus esculentus combined with sodium alginate at various polymer/drug ratios. Okra mucilage was characterized for morphology, swelling, viscosity and flow properties. AH microspheres were prepared by ionic emulsification method and characterized using size, entrapment efficiency, swelling index and dissolution time (t 50). A full 2 by 3 factorial experimental design using three factors (Okra mucilage/alginate ratio X 1 ; drug/polymer ratio X 2 ; and polymer concentration X 3), each at two levels, was used to determine the effects of formulation variables on the responses. Optimized formulations of AH microspheres had sizes ranging from 250.91 ± 16.22 to 462.10 ± 23.85 µm; swelling index 1.35 ± 0.05 and 3.20 ± 0.03 and entrapment 55.70 ± 3.55-94.11 ± 4.50%. The microspheres exhibited sustained release of AH over a prolonged period as revealed by the dissolution time (t 50) 2.85 ± 1.03-7.50 ± 0.96 h. Drug release kinetics generally followed zero order, implying that the process is constant and independent of the initial concentration of drug. Polymer concentration had the highest influence on microsphere size, entrapment efficiency and dissolution time while Okra/alginate ratio had the highest influence on swelling. Okra mucilage was a suitable polymer that could serve as an alternative to synthetic polymers in sustaining the release of ambroxol hydrochloride.

Ambroxol Hydrochloride Loaded Gastro-Retentive Nanosuspension Gels Potentiate Anticancer Activity in Lung Cancer (A549) Cells

“…In a glass beaker containing 8 mL distilled water, ABX (100 mg) or ABX-CRG K co-precipitate complex (200 mg) and CS (10 mg/mL) was placed and homogenized using a homogenizer. The homogenized mixtures (8 mL) were mixed and stirred with the 12 mL of 3% SA solution [ 14 ]. For F3, the dry components in Table 1 were mixed to have a dry physical mixture.…”

“…Osmotic pump-based tablets of ABX with a comparable bioavailability as those found in marketed sustained-release capsule formulations can sustain drug release for 12 h [ 11 ]. Sustained ABX release can be obtained from microspheres prepared from the mucilage of Abelmoschus esculentus [ 14 ]. Cross-linking of microspheres can be utilized for modifying the release of ABX [ 15 ].…”

Formulation, Statistical Optimization, and In Vivo Pharmacodynamics of Cydonia oblonga Mucilage/Alginate Mucoadhesive Microspheres for the Delivery of Metformin HCl

“…An essential criterion in drug delivery is adequately improving and optimizing the experimental design while enhancing the practical drug delivery carrier fabrication efficiency. For formulation optimization of COM/Na-Alg microspheres, a 3 2 central composite design (CCD) was employed with COM (X 1 , 100–300 mg) and Na-Alg (X 2 , 100–300 mg) polymer concentrations chosen as independent factors by utilizing the published literature and preliminary trials. , These factors were varied at three levels, i.e., −1, 0, and 1, for low, medium, and high levels, respectively, whereas the particle size (mm) (PS/Y 1 , mm), drug encapsulation efficiency (DEE%/Y 2 ), and cumulative drug release (%) at 12 h (R 12h /Y 3 ) were used as dependent variables (Table ). The statistical design model and numerical optimization were generated using Design Expert Software (DES) (10.0.1.0), while ANOVA was applied for drug model significance estimation ( p < 0.05) .…”

Fabrication and Therapeutic Process of a Green Silver-Nanoparticle-Embedded Mucilage Microsphere for Pathogenic-Bacteria-Infected Second-Degree Burn and Excision Wounds

“…Okunlola et al. created a microsphere from the mucilage of okra and employed it as a drug-delivery system . Microspheres are free-flowing, 1–1000-μm-range spherical particles consisting of natural or synthetic polymers and efficient for drug loading, controlled release, and targeted delivery processes …”

“…Okunlola okra and employed it as a drug-delivery system. 8 Microspheres are free-flowing, 1−1000-μm-range spherical particles consisting of natural or synthetic polymers and efficient for drug loading, controlled release, and targeted delivery processes. 9 The goal of our study is to synthesize a green silvernanoparticle-encapsulated hibiscus mucilage microsphere (HMMS@GSNP) and apply it to MRSA-infected (methicillin-resistant S. aureus) burn and excision wounds.…”