Natural gum modified emulsion gel as single carrier for the oral delivery of probiotic-drug combination

Single formulation based delivery of probiotic-drug combination is envisioned as a superior therapeutic delivery modality for the diseases like Crohn's diseases, ulceritive colitis and Recurrent Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhoea (RCDAD). Keeping this perspective in mind, here we have developed natural gum [using a combination of aqueous solution of xantham gum (X) and guar gum (G)] modified sunflower oil based emulsion gels for the delivery of probiotics-drugs combination. FT-IR analysis and fluorescence microscopy together confirmed the formation of oil-in-water type emulsion gel by physical gelation in presence of the physical gelator sorbitan monopalmitate (SM). Other studies (XRD, DSC, mechanical properties and disintegration study) revealed that the variation in relative proportion of the two gums has a sporadic but significant effect on the physico-chemical properties of the gel. Post storage viability of commercially used probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (Lp 299v) at different storage conditions (4 °C, −20 °C, −196 °C) was found higher in the emulsion gels with respect to the control. Moreover, the gels were found suitable for sustained delivery of metronidazole (the lipophilic drug often used with Lp 299v). In conclusion, the natural gum modified emulsion gel may be used as a delivery system for the probiotic-drug combination.