Development of a modified drug delivery system through the incorporation of furosemide into sericin and alginate matrix using the experimental design approach

BACKGROUND Most drugs are designed for immediate release via oral administration, releasing the dosage rapidly. Those administration forms can present a wide variation in drug concentrations, which can be harmful to a patient, when the amount of drug is either below or above the therapeutic range. Modified-release formulations promise to alleviate the problems inherent to immediate-release drugs by modifying their form of encapsulation. A sericin/alginate blend was applied as a matrix to modify the release of furosemide. The influence of furosemide and alginate concentration was evaluated in the incorporation efficiency and release time of 85% of drug content using a 2(2)full-factorial experimental design. Various analytical techniques were employed to characterize the produced drug particles. RESULTS The incorporation efficiencies ranged from 73.4 +/- 2.1% to 84.7 +/- 2.9% and the release could be classified as delayed and sustained due to gastroresistance of the particles and a longer release time compared to the commercial drug. Release mechanism was controlled by the relaxation of macromolecular chains due to absorption of water by the particles and the erosion of the matrix. The presence of furosemide crystals was confirmed. Furosemide thermal stability was not altered with its incorporation into the sericin/alginate blend and mean diameter was small enough that the particles could be applied to multiparticulate systems. CONCLUSIONS Sericin/alginate blend could serve as a biodegradable and biocompatible matrix for furosemide incorporation for delayed and sustained drug delivery. (c) 2020 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)