Extended release of Gliclazide from highly stabilized calcium alginate/poly(acrylamide) beads for diabetes management

In the present work, stability of calcium alginate beads has been remarkably improved by a novel strategy which consists of in situ formation of poly (acrylamide) within the calcium ions cross-linked sodium alginate beads. The resulting beads have been found to be stable for more than 48 h, in the physiological fluid (PF) of pH 7.4, while the plain alginate beads disintegrated within a couple of hours. The release of the anti-diabetic drug Gliclazide (Glz) from the beads was investigated under physiological conditions. The enhanced stability and prolonged release was also confirmed by an in vivo study on Albino Wistar rats.