DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NANOSPONGES CONTAINING GLICLAZIDE
Mohammad Sadab Momin, Rupesh Jain, Vivek Jain
ABSTRACT
The present study aims to develop and characterize Gliclazide-loaded nanosponges to overcome the drug’s poor aqueous solubility and achieve sustained release for improved oral delivery. Gliclazide, a second-generation sulfonylurea used in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, is limited by its low solubility and variable gastrointestinal absorption. Nanosponges, known for their porous, nanoscale structure, offer a promising platform for enhancing drug loading, stability, and controlled release. In this study, nanosponges were formulated using Eudragit S-100 as a polymer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a stabilizer by the emulsion solvent diffusion method. Six formulations (F1–F6) were prepared by varying polymer and stabilizer concentrations. The optimized formulation (F3) demonstrated the highest percentage yield (81.12%) and entrapment efficiency (79.85%), with favorable particle size and zeta potential, confirming its nanoscale nature and stability. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed spherical, porous nanosponges with uniform morphology. In-vitro drug release studies showed that Gliclazide nanosponges provided sustained release up to 12 hours, compared to rapid release from the pure drug. Drug release kinetics indicated that the optimized formulation followed First Order and Higuchi models with non-Fickian diffusion behavior. These results suggest that nanosponge-based formulations can be a promising alternative for enhancing the therapeutic performance of poorly soluble antidiabetic agents like Gliclazide.
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