INULIN BASED HYDROGEL FOR ORAL DELIVERY OF FLUTAMIDE: PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND IN VIVO RELEASE STUDIES

The ability of a hydrogel obtained by crosslinking INUDV and PEGBa to facilitate sustained release of flutamide is examined. The hydrogel is prepared in pH = 7.4 PBS and no toxic solvents or catalysts are used. It is recovered in microparticulate form and its size distribution is determined. Mucoadhesive properties are evaluated in vitro by reproducing gastrointestinal conditions. Flutamide is loaded into the hydrogel using a post-fabrication encapsulation procedure that allows a drug loading comparable to that of market tablets. Drug-loaded microparticles are orally administered to cross-bred dogs and the in vivo study demonstrates their ability to prolong the half-life of the principal active metabolite approximately threefold and to significantly increase its bioavailability