Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer is a major public health problem in the developed world. Capsaicin, a spicy component of hot pepper that preferentially induces certain cancer cells to undergo apoptosis including colon cancer cells.

Objective: The aim of the present investigation was to entrap nanoemulsome containing capsaicin in gellan gum hydrogel beads and further coated with Eudragit S100 for site specific delivery to the colon.

Method: Nanoemulsomes were prepared by thin film hydration method. Then the prepared nanoliposomes were entrapped in gellan gum hydrogel beads and coated with Eudragit S 100. Physical state of the drug in nanoemulsome was determined by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry technique. Nanoemusomes were characterized for size, drug entrapment, and in vitro drug release.

Results: The entrapment efficiency and average particle size of nanoemulsome were 33.75% and 174.4 nm respectively. In vitro drug release studies were carried out using dialysis bag technique in simulated fluids at different pH (1.2, 4.5, 7.4, and 6.8) to mimic the gastrointestinal tract. Eudragit S 100 coated hydrogel beads has shown complete drug release for 24 h in a controlled manner in comparison to the un-coated hydrogel beads, which released about 50% of the drug before entering the colonic region.

Conclusion: The results clearly demonstrated that coated hydrogel beads can be used as a potential carrier for delivery of capsaicin to colon.

Keywords: Capsaicin, gellan gum beads, enteric coated, emulsome, drug delivery.

Graphical Abstract