Formulation and Evaluation of Silymarin-Loaded Chitosan-Montmorilloite Microbeads for the Potential Treatment of Gastric Ulcers

• Main Authors: Ameya Sharma, Vivek Puri, Vandita Kakkar, Inderbir Singh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-09-01
• Series: Journal of Functional Biomaterials
• Subjects: Microbeads; silymarin; chitosan; montmorillonite; gastric ulcers
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/9/3/52

Silymarin-loaded mucoadhesive microbeads of Chitosan-MMT were developed using the ionotropic gelation technique. Characterization of the microbeads was performed by DSC, XRD, SEM, and FTIR techniques. In vitro mucoadhesion and drug release studies; gastroprotective studies including the measurement of ulcerative index; the determination of gastric wall mucus; and the determination of percentage protection, biochemical, and histopathological studies were also performed. Microbeads batches were evaluated for particle size (120–140 µm), actual drug content, (49.36–58.18%) and entrapment efficiency (72.52–92.39%).Biochemical estimation of myeloperoxidase was found to be 0.10–0.75 µmoles/g/tissue. Significant reduction in the ulcerative index showed the gastroprotective effect of the formulation. Silymarin-loaded beads of Chitosan-MMT were found to exhibit good mucoadhesion and efficient release of the drug, and were found to be a promising drug carrier system for the treatment of gastric ulcers.