Controlled release of sulfasalazine loaded amidated pectin microparticles through Eudragit S 100 coated capsule for management of inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common colonic disorder affecting most of the world population. In order to overcome the IBD, present study was aimed to fabricate the sulfasalazine loaded amidated pectin microparticles by ionic gelation technique. The microparticles were filled in Eudragit S 100 coated hard gelatin capsules for pH and time dependent drug delivery to the colon especially for the treatment of IBD. The effects of variables such as concentration of crosslinking agent (calcium chloride) and amidated pectin-sulfasalazine ratio were optimized through the particle size, zeta potential, % yield, encapsulation efficiency (% EE), swelling index and in vitro drug release. The optimized formulation, F4 exhibited average particle size (463.33 ± 6.72 μm), zeta potential (−32.10 ± 0.80 mV), yield (91.62 ± 1.97%) and EE (95.62 ± 1.21%). The significant swelling index, 0.88 ± 0.02 θ and 0.98 ± 0.03 θ was achieved with F4 at pH 6.8 and pH 7.4 respectively. The F4 showed maximum drug release (91.12 ± 5.11%) in simulated colonic fluid (SCF, pH 7.4) and 98.07 ± 3.92% (P