Development and Evaluation of Sustained Release Microspheres of Repaglinide for Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Sustained release dosage form is essential for diabetic patients which is marked by continuous therapy along with high margin of safety, patient compliance and fulfill economical features. Repaglinide is a class of meglitinide, a drug of choice to formulate microspheres by utilizing sodium alginate, olibanum gum and pectin in different ratios by using ionic-gelation method. Excellent results were found in rheological behavior and release studies. Microspheres size and percentage yield was found in the range of 694 ?m to 727 ?m and 73% to 75% respectively. SEM revealed that microspheres were discrete, spherical and free flowing. Entrapment efficiency was variable, ranges from 55% to 75%. Uniform drug release was observed in drug release kinetics, followed Higuchi model with non-fickian release. These microspheres proved to be suitable for oral sustained release of repaglinide.

Keywords: Repaglinide, Microsphere, Ionic-gelation method, Olibanum gum, Pectin