Formulation of Colon Targeted Guar Gum Based Matrix Microsphere Containing Lornoxicam for Effective Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

In the present work, lornoxicam (LOR) loaded guar gum microspheres were prepared and characterized for local release of drug in the colon, for the effective treatment of ulcerative colitis. For the preparation of guar gum microspheres emulsification method was used and glutaraldehyde used as a cross-linking agent. Scanning electron microscopy was used for surface morphological characteristics investigation of microspheres. Particle size, shape, and surface morphology were significantly affected by guar gum concentration, glutaraldehyde concentration and stirring rate. Lornoxicam loaded microspheres showed high entrapment efficiency (76.58%). The in vitro drug release was carried out in different media (pH 1.2, 4.5 and 7.4 buffer solutions, with and without rat cecal contents), results showed that it was affected by a change to the guar gum concentration and glutaraldehyde concentration. The drug release in pH 1.2, 4.5 and 7.4 followed a similar release pattern and had a similar drug release rate, while a significant increase in percent cumulative drug release (86.51%) was observed in the dissolution medium containing rat cecal content. Guar gum microspheres showed adequate potential of colon targeting in achieving local release of drug in colon.