Formulation of various polysaccharides-based multicoated tablets containing dexamethasone and probiotics for inflammatory bowel disease

Dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid anti-inflammatory agent that can be used for inflammatory bowel disease. However, dexamethasone produces side effects if given conventionally. A colon-targeted drug delivery system is a strategy to deliver dexamethasone to the colon. This research aimed to obtain a multicoated tablet formulation with probiotics using polysaccharides as the primary coating and pH-sensitive polymers as the secondary coating to deliver dexamethasone to the colon. Core tablets were made using a wet granulation method, which was formulated into three formulations with different concentrations of probiotics, 16%, 40%, and 0%. The coatings were prepared in two stages. Polysaccharide polymers such as sodium alginate (A), chitosan (C), and xanthan gum (X) were chosen as the primary coating. At the same time, the combination of Eudragit L100 and Eudragit S100 (1:4) was selected as the secondary coating. Each formula was characterized and evaluated by an in vitro dissolution test. In vitro dissolution test was initially performed in HCl pH 1.2 for 2 hours, phosphate buffer pH 7.2 for the next 3 hours, and phosphate buffer pH 6.8 for the following 7 hours. Tablets coated with sodium alginate (A), chitosan (C), and xanthan gum (X) showed that the presence of probiotics did not affect drug release.