Abstract
This study aimed to develop and evaluate Diclofenac sodium-loaded microspheres using sodium alginate and locust bean gum (LBG) by the ionotropic gelation technique for sustained drug delivery. The prepared microspheres exhibited satisfactory physicochemical properties with particle sizes ranging from 151 ± 4.3 to 174 ± 4.5 µm and good production yield. FTIR analysis confirmed the absence of significant drug–polymer interactions, indicating compatibility and stability of the formulation.
In vitro drug release studies were performed under simulated gastrointestinal conditions (pH 1.2 to pH 6.8), demonstrating sustained release behavior over 12 hours. The release rate was influenced by polymer concentration and crosslinking density. Among all formulations, F12 (2% sodium alginate, 2% LBG, and 4% CaCl₂) showed an optimized release profile with approximately 94 ± 2.1% drug release at 12 hours.
Kinetic analysis revealed that drug release followed the Higuchi model, indicating diffusion-controlled release, while Korsmeyer–Peppas analysis confirmed non-Fickian transport. These findings suggest that alginate–LBG microspheres are a promising system for sustained delivery of Diclofenac sodium, potentially improving therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance.