Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Preparation of Alginate Gel Beads Containing Metformin Hydrochloride Using Emulsion- Gelation Method

P K Choudhury¹, Mousumi . Kar²

¹Department of Pharmacy, Fiji School of Medicine, Hoodless House, Suva, Fiji Island; ²Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MLSU, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

For correspondence:- Mousumi Kar Email: karmousumi@hotmail.com Tel:+91- 02942470192

Published: 17 December 2005

Citation: Choudhury PK, Kar M.. Preparation of Alginate Gel Beads Containing Metformin Hydrochloride Using Emulsion- Gelation Method. Trop J Pharm Res 2005; 4(2):489-493 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v4i2.3

© 2005 The authors.
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Abstract

A new emulsion gelation method was used to prepare gel beads for a highly water-soluble drug metformin hydrochloride using sodium alginate as the polymer. The gel beads containing oil was prepared by gently mixing or homogenizing oil and water phase containing sodium alginate which was then extruded into calcium chloride solution to produce gel beads. The effects of factors like type of oil and percentage of oil on the morphology and release characteristics were investigated. A variety of oils were used to study the effect on the sustaining property of the formed beads. The oil entrapped calcium alginate gel beads showed good sustained release. Scanning electron photomicrographs demonstrated minute oil globules on the beads and also through the inner surface of the beads. The beads also showed floating behavior depending on the type of the oil that have been used for the preparation.

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