Author(s): Ramteke K.H, Vansola J.B, Tailor D.J, Parmar J. R
The purpose of the present investigation was to incorporate Metformin hydrochloride into beads giving sustained release of metformin and optimize best cross linking agent amongst calcium and aluminium. Formulation was prepared by ionotropic external gelation technique using Ca+2 and Al+3 ions. The prepared beads were characterized for Entrapment efficiency, Scanning electron microscopy, Swelling kinetics, Release behavior of beads by Kinetics modeling. Ca+2 cross linked beads showed sustained release of drug for about 8 hr while Al+3 cross linked beads shown sustained release of drug about 10 hrs. The entrapment efficiency was also lesser in case of Ca+2 cross linked beads. The alginate beads swelled and eventually disintegrated in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8). The results revealed that aluminium is better cross linking agent than calcium indicating that valence affects cross linking. In nutshell, by proper choice of cross linking agent metformin hydrochloride can be incorporated into beads giving sustained release action.