Fabrication of sustainable modified fenugreek gum block copolymer in oral controlled drug delivery system: synthesis, toxicity, in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics

This study was planned to develop Fenugreek polymer which was modified by grafting with acrylamide using ceric ammonium nitrate. The copolymer was characterized with the help of instrumental data. Nifedipine tablets were prepared including pure gum, graft copolymer and HPMC K100M. In vitro release studies showed that the tablets F1-F5 released 94.72% to 92.24% within 5 h, while tablet formulations F6-F10 extended the release up to 12 h and the release was retarded with increase in concentration of copolymer in the range of 95.84% to 88.39% of drug release. Tablets F8 demonstrated optimum drug release which was 94.19% in 12 h. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies of F8 in rabbits showed an area under the curve of 6050.45 (ng/mL)×h as compared with marketed nifedipine tablets (6723.88 (ng/mL)×h). The acrylamide copolymer retarded the drug release and hence can be explored for the preparation of extended-release formulations for the administration.