Genipin crosslinked gelatin microspheres of gliclazide were developed through simple coacervation phase-separation method. Effect of drug: polymer ratio (gliclazide: gelatin ratio and concentration of genipin) on swelling index (%), drug release at t50 (min.) and particle size (µm) were optimized using 32 factorial design. The swelling index was within the range of 90.8±0.10 to 326.8±0.12%. The in-vitro drug release (t50) from the microspheres (151.23±0.30 to 605.52±0.31 over 12 h (720 min.)) was followed controlled release (Higuchi) pattern (r2 = 0.933 to 0.992) with super case-II transport mechanism. The average particle size of microspheres was within 16.25 to 28.5 µm. The microspheres were also characterized by SEM, XRD, DSC and FTIR. The % yield, drug loading and entrapment efficiency were also influence by drug: polymer ratio. These data demonstrate that drug release rates from gelatin microspheres may be sustained and extended by controlling the degree of crosslinking with genipin.
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