title: Preparation and evaluation of berberine alginate beads for stomach-specific delivery.
abstract: The purpose of this research was to prepare floating calcium alginate beads of berberine for targeting the gastric mucosa and prolonging their gastric residence time. The floating beads were prepared by suspending octodecanol and berberine in sodium alginate (SA) solution. The suspension was then dripped into a solution of calcium chloride. The hydrophobic and low-density octodecanol enhanced the sustained-release properties and floating ability of the beads. The bead formulation was optimized for different weight ratios of octodecanol and SA and evaluated in terms of diameter, floating ability and drug loading, entrapment and release. In vitro release studies showed that the floating and sustained release time were effectively increased in gastric media by addition of octodecanol. In vivo studies with rats showed that a significant increase in gastric residence time of beads had been achieved.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 100 shizhijie, Nanjing 210028, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Hai
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong-Shun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Were L L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Munyendo
authors.forename: Hui-Xia
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Sheng-Liang
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005782:Gels; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012995:Solubility / Q000187:drug effects; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D005782:Gels; D001599:Berberine