Formulation and evaluation of silymarin-loaded chitosan-montmorilloite microbeads for the potential treatment of gastric ulcers

Abstract

Silymarin-loaded mucoadhesive microbeads of Chitosan-MMT were developed using the ionotropic gelation technique. Characterization of the microbeads was performed by DSC, XRD, SEM, and FTIR techniques. In vitro mucoadhesion and drug release studies; gastroprotective studies including the measurement of ulcerative index; the determination of gastric wall mucus; and the determination of percentage protection, biochemical, and histopathological studies were also performed. Microbeads batches were evaluated for particle size (120�140 �m), actual drug content, (49.36�58.18%) and entrapment efficiency (72.52�92.39%).Biochemical estimation of myeloperoxidase was found to be 0.10�0.75 �moles/g/tissue. Significant reduction in the ulcerative index showed the gastroprotective effect of the formulation. Silymarin-loaded beads of Chitosan-MMT were found to exhibit good mucoadhesion and efficient release of the drug, and were found to be a promising drug carrier system for the treatment of gastric ulcers. � 2018 by the authors.