Use of Xanthan Gum in the Formulation of Diethylcarbamazine for Targeted Drug Delivery
Clement Jackson *
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Nigeria.
Martins Emeje
Centre for Nanomedicine and Biophysical Drug Delivery, Advanced Biology/Chemistry Laboratory, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Developement, Idu Abuja, Nigeria.
Sabinus Ofoefule
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Matrix tablets were prepared using xanthan gum (XG) and Diethylcarbamazine was used as model drug. The controlled release of the drug by the polymer matrices in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) was assessed through release studies carried out in the presence and absence of rat caecal content. Desired release profile was noted with Diethylcarbamazine batch with Xanthan gum 30% and 40% (XG3 and XG4.). Presence of Xanthan gum in relatively higher concentration in the tablets delayed the initial release of drug from the matrices due to swelling and consequent exposure to effect of polysaccharidases in the colon. XG3 and XG4 released the drug by zero order kinetics through non fickian mechanism. Drug release in dissolution medium with rat cecal content was significantly (P<0.05) different from the control (without rat cecal content) for the optimized formulations of Diethylcarbamazine tablets.
Keywords: Diethylcarbamazine, kinetics, release profile.