Uticaj postupka sušenja raspršivanjem na svojstva polielektrolitnih kompleksa hitozana i ksantan gume kao nosača za peroralnu isporuku ibuprofena

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) are attractive carriers with recognized potential toenhance oral delivery of poorly soluble high-dosed low-molecular-weight drugs. The formulationof solid oral dosage forms requires the drying of PECs, which may affect their physicochemicaland biopharmaceutical properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of spray-drying on the properties of ibuprofen-loaded chitosan/xanthan gum PECs and to assess the drugrelease kinetics from such PECs filled into hard capsules in comparison with corresponding PECswhich are dried under ambient conditions. The yield, ibuprofen content, entrapment efficiency,and residual moisture content of spray-dried PECs were lower than those of ambient-dried PECs.Better flowability of spray-dried PECs was attributed to the almost spherical particle shape,shown by scanning electron microscopy. DSC and PXRD analysis confirmed the amorphizationof ibuprofen during spray-drying. All the investigated PECs, obtained by drying under ambientconditions as well as by spray-drying, had high rehydration capacity both in 0.1 M hydrochloricacid (pH 1.2) and phosphate buffer pH 7.4. In vitro ibuprofen release from dried PECs wascontrolled during 12 h with the release of approximately 30% of entrapped ibuprofen. Spray-driedPECs provided better control of ibuprofen diffusion from the carrier compared to the ambient-dried ones