title: Colon delivery of budesonide using solid dispersion in dextran for the treatment and secondary prevention of ulcerative colitis in rat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ulcerative colitis is characterized by local inflammation. Targeting drugs directly to the site of injury has the benefit of lower adverse effects and more effective therapy. The aim of this study was colon targeted delivery of budesonide to deliver the major part of the drug to the colon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Matrix tablets of budesonide from solid dispersion of drug with dextran were prepared using different drug to polymer ratios and three molecular weights of dextran. The physical evaluation and drug release behavior were studied. In vivo efficacy of the selected formulation against acetic acid induced colitis in rats was evaluated and compared to the control (untreated) and references (mesalazine and budesonide suspensions) groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that solid dispersion of budesonide with dextran in the ratio of 1:7 using molecular weight (MW) of 10,000 dextran (SDT710) released 25% of the drug in the first 6 hours and 100% in caecal and colonic contents. It could target the drug to colon with improvement in some of the inflammatory signs of induced ulcerative colitis in rat. Treatment with SDT710 could improve not only the percent of involvement also macroscopic damage parameters. The macroscopic parameters included weight/length ratio of the colon, ulcer area, damage score, and ulcer index reduced in comparison to the control group and conventional suspension of budesonide; however, only weight/length ratio was significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the experimental model studied, the new colonic delivery system significantly improved the efficacy of budesonide in the weight/length ratio of the colon in induced colitis in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Jaleh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varshosaz
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.forename: Jaber
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Emami
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minaiyan
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahzouni
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dorkoosh