The use of clinoptilolites as carrier of metformin hydrochloride in drug delivery system: In vitro drug release study

Abstract

Objective: As an antidiabetic drug, metformin hydrochloride (HCl) has been well known to possess low oral bioavailability and short half-life. In this study, we prepared the drug delivery system (DDS) of metformin HCl and clinoptilolite as its carrier. The in vitro drug release profile was further investigated. Methods: DDS was made by encapsulating metformin HCl on clinoptilolite using the wet impregnation method at various pH and initial concentration of metformin HCl. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and N2 Sorption Analyzer were used to characterize the as-synthesized DDS. Drug release study was conducted by stirring the DDS in simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid over 12 h. Results: The encapsulation process was achieved optimally at pH 7.0 and initial concentration of metformin HCl of 300 mg/l (CLI2-300 denoted DDS). The results of FTIR and N2 sorption analyzer confirmed the existence of metformin HCl on clinoptilolites. Meanwhile, the XRD result showed that the crystallinity of clinoptilolites remained unchanged after the encapsulation process. The cumulative drug release in the simulated gastric fluid was found to be higher than that in the simulated intestinal fluid, which indicated the potent influence of pH on the release properties of the drugs. The drug release kinetics of metformin HCl from clinoptilolite was best fitted into the Korsmeyer-Peppas model with non-Fickian transport mechanism. Conclusion: We found that clinoptilolite was suitable for DDS application, particularly as a carrier of metformin HCl.