Repaglinide-laden hydrogel particles of xanthan gum derivatives for the management of diabetes

Herein, the repaglinide-loaded hydrogel particles of carboxyethyl xanthan gum (CEXG) and carboxymethyl xanthan gum (CMXG) were fabricated, and controlled drug delivery performance was assessed. The XG derivatives were characterized by FTIR analyses, degree of substitution, and cytotoxicity assay. CEXG: CMXG (1:2) hydrogel particles had maximum drug entrapment efficiency of 92%. The hydrogel particles swelled a maximum of about 2.25 times in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) than that in acidic medium (pH 1.2) in 2 h. The particles discharged 97% drug in simulated gastrointestinal pH in 4 h. The acetylation of hydrogel particles reduced the drug entrapment efficiency to 78%; however, it extended drug release up to 8 h, obeying anomalous diffusion. DSC and X-ray diffraction analyses suggested amorphous dispersion of repaglinide after entrapment. Preclinically, the acetylated hydrogels caused a maximum 52.8% reduction in blood glucose level and effectively lowered blood glucose up to 8 h. Hence, the acetylated CEXG: CMXG hydrogel particles could help control diabetes.