Isolation and Functioning Investigation of Salvia hispanica Seed Mucilage as A Potential Sustained Release Carrier for Water Soluble Drug

Abstract: Background: Natural biopolymers or hydrogels that are biodegradable and safe from biological point of view along with their capability to retain active principle within their network thus prolonging the release. The present work was undertaken to explore the potential of mucilage from mature seeds of Chia (Salvia hispanica) to sustain the release of water-soluble drugs. Losartan potassium was used as a model to prepare the gelispheres. Materials and Methods: The mucilage was isolated and their physicochemical properties like viscosity, phytoconstituent, FTIR, hydration index were studied. Gelispheres loaded with active drug Losartan Potassium (LP) were prepared using sodium alginate, pectin and CSM in various ratios by polyelectrolyte complexation (Ionic Gelation) method. Micrometric properties, surface contour analysis, ex vivo mucoadhesion study, in vitro drug release study, compatibility, XRD, stability study, statistical analysis was carried out on the prepared gelispheres. Results: The isolated mucilage of mature Chia (Salvia hispanica) seeds possesses immense properties like viscosity modification capacity, consistency, excellent hydration and mucoadhesive nature that can be explored for developing active principal delivery devices. Conclusion: The developed drug loaded gelispheres exhibited good mucoadhesion which enabled sustaining the release of drug for prolonged duration advocating the use of mucilage to design a twice daily losartan potassium sustain release system for management of hypertension. Keywords: Chia seed mucilage, Gelisphere, Mucoadhesion, Losartan potassium, Ionic gelation.