Formulation and Evaluation of Chitosan‐Gellan Based Methotrexate Implants

An implant controlled‐release system for methotrexate delivery based on a polyion complex composed of chitosan and gellan was investigated. Multi‐layered implant was prepared by using poly(vinyl alcohol), gellan and chitosan. Two chitosan layers sandwiched the poly(vinyl alcohol)‐gellan layer, which acted as a methotrexate reservoir. The prepared implant was evaluated for swellability, in vitro and in vivo release and biodegradation studies. The equilibrium swelling and methotrexate release was found to depend on a concentration of calcium chloride, which was used as a crosslinking agent for gellan. Drug‐loaded implants were subcutaneously implanted in the back of Wistar rats. The in vivo studies showed that methotrexate was released slowly for a period over 30 days and also there was no fibrous capsule formation around the implant indicating the biocompatibility of the implant.