Phosphated pectin application in the development of films for drug delivery systems: Evaluation of permeability properties and swelling

Abstract

Phosphated pectin (Pect-TMFT) together with α-gluco-oligossacaride (Bioecolians®) were incorporated into aqueous dispersion of polymethacrylate (Eudragit® RS 30 D) to obtain free films by the casting process (50ºC) in Teflon® plate. Pect-TMFT and Bioecolians® were added into dispersions of Eudragit ® RS 30 D at different rates: 90:05:05, 80:10:10 and 70:20:10 (4% p/v). Triethyl citrate (TEC) was used as plasticizer (20% of mass of the polymethacrylate). The proposed dispersions showed film formation ability. The free films were characterized by the determination of water vapour transmission (WVT), by the swelling index (Ii%) in fluids of gastric simulation (FGS) and intestinal (FIS) and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The increase of modified polysaccharide and Bioecolians® in the films favored their permeability to the water vapour and their hydration degree when in FIS (pH = 6.8). In that way, the obtained film in the concentration 70:20:10, can prevent the premature release of the drug in the up GIT when applied to develop oral solid systems coating. Besides, the presence of Pect-TMFT and Bioecolians® can contribute to the specific membrane degradation by colonic microflora enzymes, making possible a modified release kinetics of drugs even with the existence of inter-individual variations of pH.