In order to exploit the potential of gel forming medicinally important polysaccharide, psyllium based cryogels is developed through physical modification. Composite cryogel of psyllium arabinoxylan (Ax) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were prepared by freeze thaw cycling. Cryogels were evaluated for pharmaceutical applications by formulating metronidazole loaded mucoadhesive films. Metronidazole loaded arabinoxylan–polyvinylalcohol cryogel films were found to possess good mucoadhesive characteristics which showed increase in mucoadhesive strength with increase in arabinoxylan content in the cryogel. Further, it was also observed that arabinoxylan and polyvinylalcohol cryogel film matrices were able to sustain the release of metronidazole with the release of drug following Higuchi’s release kinetics by combination of polymer relaxation and diffusion through the matrix. On characterization, the Ax-PVA cryogels were found to be thermally more stable and with reduced degree of crytallinity.
Loading....