Preparation and evaluation of gel formulations for oral sustained delivery to dysphagic patients.
BACKGROUND
Oral sustained release gel formulations may provide a means of administering drugs to dysphagic and geriatric patients who have difficulties with handling and taking oral dosage forms.


OBJECTIVE
We have designed gel formulations for the oral administration of paracetamol with suitable rheological characteristics for ease of administration to patients with swallowing difficulties and sufficient integrity in the acidic environment of the stomach to achieve a sustained release of this drug.


METHODS
Gels formed by gelatin, agar, gellan, pectin, and xyloglucan were assessed for suitable gel strength and in vitro and in vivo release characteristics.


RESULTS
Gellan (1.5% w/v) and xyloglucan gels (1.5% w/w) had acceptable gel strengths for ease of swallowing and retained their integrity in the rat stomach sufficiently well to sustain the release of paracetamol over a period of 6 hours. Comparison of 1.5% xyloglucan gels with a commercially available preparation with identical paracetamol concentrations demonstrated improved sustained release properties of the xyloglucan gels.


CONCLUSIONS
Gels formed by gellan and xyloglucan have suitable rheological and sustained release characteristics for potential use as vehicles for oral delivery of drugs to dysphagic patients.
Miyazaki
Shozo
S
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science University of Hokkaido, Ishikari-Tohbetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.
Takahashi
Akie
A
Itoh
Kunihiko
K
Ishitani
Mariko
M
Dairaku
Masatake
M
Togashi
Mitsuo
M
Mikami
Ryozo
R
Attwood
David
D