ABSTRACT

The scope of the present study was the preparation and characterization of Ibuprofen composite beads based on montmorillonite (MMt) and sodium alginate (Alg) as drug carriers [1,2]. After Ibuprofen (IBU) incorporation into MMt, the resulting hybrid was compounded with alginate, and IBU-MMt-Alg composite beads were obtained by ionotropic gelation technique. The structure and surface morphology of the hybrid and composite materials were established by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Diclofenac incorporation efficiency in Mt and in alginate beads was determined both by UV–Vis spectroscopy and thermal analysis and was found to be high. The hybrid and composite materials were tested in vitro in simulated intestinal fluid (pH=7.4, at 37°C) in order to establish if upon administering the beads at the site of the delivery of the drug is sustained. The in vitro drug release test results clearly suggested that MMt, and MMt along with Alg were able to control the release of Ibuprofen by making it sustained, without any burst effect, and by reducing the released amount and the release rate. The composite beads may be a promising drug delivery system.

Keywords: Montmorillonite, Alginate, composite material, Ibuprofen, Drug delivery.