Design of Aloe Vera-Alginate Gastroretentive Drug Delivery System to Improve the Pharmacotherapy

Both, aloe vera gel and alginate, have been reported to have anti-ulcer activity. Keeping in view the therapeutic importance of these polysaccharides, in the present study, an attempt has been made to synthesize gastro-retentive drug delivery system by simultaneously ionotropic gelation of alginate and aloe vera for the controlled release of anti-ulcer agent ranitidine. These beads have been characterized by SEM, FTIR and swelling studies. The release of drug has been observed more in pH 2.2 buffer and occurred through Fickian diffusion mechanism. Further, the drug carrier itself has anti-ulcer activity. So, therapeutic potential of the anti-ulcer drug released from these carriers may be enhanced.