Dextran-Based Hydrogels for Site-Specific Delivery of Mebeverine Hydrochloride

Mebeverine hydrochloride (MVH) is a potent direct antispasmodic agent acting mainly on the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome and reducing the abdominal spasm. Herein, hydrogels of dextran using acrylic acid (monomer) and N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (crosslinker) followed by further modification using isopropylamine were prepared as vehicles for the delivery of MVH. Synthesized hydrogels were evaluated for drug loading and types of interaction involved in drug loading. Drug release study was performed in pH 2.2 and pH 7.4 to mimic the pH of simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid, respectively, to evaluate the effect of structural factor on drug release. Different kinetic models were applied to drug release data in order to evaluate drug release mechanisms and kinetics. Criteria for selecting the most appropriate model were based on the linearity basis (coefficient of correlation).