Natural Polymer Based Mucoadhesive Hydrogel Beads of Nizatidine: Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation

Background: Dosage forms which precisely control the release rates and targets drugs to a specific body site have made enormous impact in the formulation and development of novel drug delivery systems. Methods: A prolonged release mucoadhesive hydrogel system of nizatidine was prepared by ionotropic gelation and polyelectrolyte complexation technique using natural, biodegradable polymers with or without chitosan. Prepared formulations were subjected to in vitro evaluation and several characterization studies. Results: Formulations with chitosan showed good drug content, swelling index and mucoadhesive strength when compared to batches containing alginate alone. The drug in formulations found to be intact and compatible with polymers used and surface morphology of prepared beads were found satisfactory. Two optimized formulations containing alginate chitosan shows Higuchi model and perfect zero order release. All the formulations with copolymer showed better sustained the drug release when compared with formulations without chitosan. Conclusion: Alginate-chitosan beads prepared by ionotropic geltion and polyelectrolyte complexation method found to be better than ionically cross linked alginate beads alone. Therefore, dual cross-linked beads are promising carrier for oral control release.