Facile preparation of acrylamide grafted locust bean gum-poly(vinyl alcohol) interpenetrating polymer network microspheres for controlled oral drug delivery

Hybridization of natural and synthetic polymers is used to improve the physicochemical stability, swelling and drug release pattern of the respective materials in biological condition. In present study, a biodegradable, biocompatible and stable interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of acrylamide grafted locust bean gum (Am-g-LBG) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was developed by emulsion crosslinking method for spatial and temporal drug delivery. The IPN microspheres were prepared with the help of glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker for controlled oral delivery of buflomedil hydrochloride. The formulation parameters were optimized in terms of different gum:PVA ratio, crosslinker amount and drug loading. The microspheres were evaluated for their drug entrapment efficiency, particle size, swelling, SEM, FTIR, NMR, DSC, XRD and in vitro drug release profile. The particles showed well controlled release characteristics and continued to drug release following diffusion controlled release pattern. The drug release was for prolong time without collapsing the particle matrix. Thus, IPN microspheres based delivery system can be a better approach for controlled delivery of highly water soluble drugs like buflomedil hydrochloride.

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