Abstract

PREPARATION AND IN VITRO EVALUATION OF CHITOSAN-CARRAGEENAN CROSSLINKED BLEND MICROSPHERES FOR CONTROLLED RELEASE OF NATEGLINIDE

P. Ramakrishna*

ABSTRACT

Chitosan (CS) and Carrageenan (CR) blend microspheres were prepared by water-in-oil emulsion technique and were loaded with nateglinide (NTG) an oral anti diabetic agent used in the management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Chitosan and Carrageenan microspheres were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to confirm the cross-linking reaction. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to assess the surface morphology of particles prepared. The quantities of release of nateglinide from the microspheres have been studied in terms of blend composition and amount of cross-linking agent. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction techniques (X-RD) indicated a uniform distribution of nateglinide particles in microspheres, whereas SEM suggested the spherical structure of the microspheres with slight rough surface. The in vitro drug release indicated that the particle size and release kinetics depend upon blend composition, amount of cross-linking agent used and amount of nateglinide present in the microspheres.

Keywords: Carrageenan, Chitosan, Controlled release, Microspheres, Drug release, anti diabetic agent.