Use of floating alginate beads for stomach drug delivery

부유특성을 갖는 알지네이트 비드를 이용한 위에서의 약물방출

Two types of alginate gel beads capable of floating in the gastric cavity were prepared. The first, alginate gell bead containing olive oil(Al-Oil), is a hydrogel bead and its buoyancy is attributable to olive oil held in the alginate gel matrix. The model drug, metronidazole(MZ), contained in Al-Oil was released gradually into artificial gastric fluid. The profiles of MZ release from Al-Oil shown initial burst and after 90 min they were about 100%. The second, alginate gel bead containing curdlan microsphere(Al-C), is a gel bead with curdlan-MZ microsphere in the matrix. To sustained release rate of drug, alginate bead were prepared curdlan microsphere containing MZ. Results demonstrated that sustained delivery of MZ over 2h can be easily achieved while the bead remained float. The release properties of prepared alginate beads are applicable not only for sustained release of drugs but also for targeting the gastric mucosa.