Preparation and Characterization of Colon-Targeted Metronidazole-Loaded Microspheres by Ionic Gelation Technique

Colon-targeted drug delivery systems (CTDDS) have emerged as a promising approach for the site-specific delivery of therapeutic agents to the large intestine, improving treatment efficacy while minimizing systemic side effects. The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate colon-targeted microspheres of Metronidazole using natural polymers for the effective treatment of colonic infections such as amoebiasis and anaerobic bacterial infections. Metronidazole-loaded alginate-chitosan microspheres were prepared by the ionic gelation technique using sodium alginate as the primary polymer, calcium chloride as the cross-linking agent, and chitosan as a coating material.