In vitro and in vivo evaluation of novel interpenetrated polymer network microparticles containing repaglinide

• The IPN microparticles were capable of releasing drug up to 24 h.
• The average size of microparticles was in the range of 49.75 to 61.52 μm.
• The DSC and XRD analyses confirmed uniform dispersion of drug in IPN microparticles.
• In vivo anti-diabetic activity proved controlled release of repaglinide from IPN microparticles.

Interpenetrated polymer network (IPN) microparticles of sterculia gum and sodium alginate loaded with repaglinide were developed by ionic gelation and emulsion crosslinking method. The drug entrapment efficiency was as high as 91%. FTIR and TG analyses confirmed the crosslinking and IPN formation. Microparticles have demonstrated the drug release up to 24 h depending upon type of crosslinking agents; the glutaraldehyde treatment of ionically crosslinked microparticles has resulted in decreased drug release rate. The in-vivo anti-diabetic activity performed on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats indicated that the pristine repaglinide has shown maximum percentage reduction of elevated blood glucose within 3 h and then the percentage reduction in blood glucose was decreased. In the case of rats treated with KA8 IPN microparticles, percentage reduction of elevated glucose was slow as compared to pristine drug within 3 h, but it was gradually increased to 81.27% up to 24 h.

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