Abstract
Author(s): Hema Devi Vaishnaw*, RichaPandey, Gayatri Joshi
Metformin hydrochloride is oral antidiabetic drug belonging to the biguanide class of drugs.
Metformin hydrochloride is used to treat non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM-Type II
diabetes), alone or in combination with other hypoglycaemic agents. It is also used in the
treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. The objective of the study was to prepare the sodium
alginate beads of antidiabetic drug Metformin hydrochloride to provide sustained release effect.
Five batches (F1-F5) were formulated by using varying concentration of drug and polymer. In this
method drugs were blended with biopolymer and sodium alginate in different ratio (1:1, 1:2, 1:3,
1:4 and 1:5) and calcium chloride was used as a cross-linking agent. Metformin loaded Alginate
beads were formulated by ionotropic gelation and prepared beads were evaluated with respect to
its particle size, surface characteristics, entrapment effiency, swelling index, loss on drying, total
moisture content and in-vitro release of drug.
From the above investigation it was found that the biopolymer will serve as a better alternative to
develop the alginate bead.