Enhancing diabetes therapy with pH-sensitive co-delivery of metformin hydrochloride and glipizide using MCM-48-based dual drug delivery system

Abstract

Monotherapy in diabetes management is losing interest due to its ineffectiveness in achieving optimal glycaemic control in a significant proportion of diabetic patients. Therefore, combined therapy is increasingly preferred by clinicians, which offers enhanced effectiveness and a better safety profile for managing the condition. The present work deals with the designing of a dual drug nanocarrier based on MCM-48 and 12-tungtophosphoric acid (TPA) for the co-delivery of Glipizide (GLP) and Metformin Hydrochloride (MTF) as well as its characterization using various techniques. An in vitro release study was carried out at two different pHs (pH 1.2 and pH 7.4) at 37 °C under stirring conditions which was further supported by an in vitro dissolution study carried out using a USP Type II dissolution apparatus. The obtained results were compared with that of the marketed available formulation, Glirum-MF, and the designed nanocarrier showed a better controlled release of both the drugs in comparison with the conventional drug. Additionally, considering the anticancer properties of both the drugs, MTT assay indicated that the carrier is non-toxic while the drug loaded nanocarrier shows apoptosis against HepG2 cells.