Development of Sorbitan Monostearate organogels for controlled delivery systems.

Abstract

The study describes the development of sorbitan monostearate (Span 60) based organogels with mustard oil as the solvent. Different compositions of organogels were prepared by varying the concentrations of span 60. During the preparation of organogels, their microstructures were studied under compound light microscope. The formulated organogels were characterized by light microscopy, gel-to-sol transition temperature, long-term stability, pH, opacity measurements and hemocompatibilty studies. Metronidazole was incorporated within the organogels and its release behaviour was determined. The anti-microbial action of the drug-loaded organogels on E. coli was studied. The microscopy of the organogels suggests that a three-dimensional network of rod-like tubular aggregates of gelator is responsible for immobilising the solvent. Clusters of span 60 are visualised as dispersed in the liquid phase. The rate of formation of organogels and the release rate of metronidazole from the organogels was found to depend on span 60 proportions in the formulated organogels. The pH of the samples was found to be in the range of 6.4-7.1. The organogels were found to be hemocompatible in nature indicating their probable use as controlled delivery vehicles.