Development of Bigels Based on Stearic Acid–Rice Bran Oil Oleogels and Tamarind Gum Hydrogels for Controlled Delivery Applications

Abstract

In the last few decades, different types of gels have been widely studied as potential drug delivery carriers. In this paper, we propose the synthesis of an oleogel, a tamarind gum hydrogel, and bigels for applications as drug delivery matrices. The oleogel was prepared by mixing stearic acid and rice bran oil, whereas the hydrogel was prepared by mixing tamarind gum with a hydroethanolic solution. Hydrogel-in-oleogel and oleogel-in-hydrogel bigels were prepared by mixing the hydrogel and the oleogel. The suitability of the formulations for controlled drug release applications was thoroughly examined using microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, as well as mechanical, electrical, thermal, drug release, and antimicrobial studies. An alteration in the microarchitecture of the bigels is observed when the oleogel and the hydrogel are mixed in varying proportions. The associative interactions within the formulations increase with the increase in the hydrogel content. The bigels exhibit the presence of stearic acid melting endotherm (associated with the oleogel) and water evaporation endotherm (associated with the hydrogel). This study suggests that the hydrogel has lowest bulk resistance compared to the other formulations. The structural breakdown of the bigels is composition-dependent, and the bulk electrical resistance is mainly governed by the oleogel phase. An increase in the diffusion of the moxifloxacin HCl from the formulations is observed with the increase of the hydrogel proportion, which in turn increases the rate of release of the drug. The proposed formulations also exhibit good antimicrobial efficacy. The analysis of these properties suggests that specific formulations can be tailored by need-based applications of the drug release rate.Keywords Oleogel Á Hydrogel Á Hydrogel-in-oleogel bigel Á Oleogel-in-hydrogel bigel Á Moxifloxacin HCl Á Antimicrobial activity J Surfact Deterg (2018) 21: 17-29.

Structural Modification of O/W Bigels by Glycerol Monostearate for Improved Co-Delivery of Curcumin and Epigallocatechin Gallate

“…In addition, the unloaded bigels with lower GMS content had milky white color (Figure A) and those with higher GMS content (BG-8) were bright white (Figure B), which was mainly due to the difference in oil droplet distribution in the samples, which caused variation in light diffraction (Figure ). The effect of the oil phase on the color of bigels was also described by Paul et al It was found that bigels composed of stearic acid-rice bran (oleogels) and tamarind gum (hydrogels) seemed whiter as the proportion of the water phase was increased. When curcumin and EGCG were included, all the samples were yellowish, and no visual difference in color could be identified.…”

Development of Bigels Based on Date Palm-Derived Cellulose Nanocrystal-Reinforced Guar Gum Hydrogel and Sesame Oil/Candelilla Wax Oleogel as Delivery Vehicles for Moxifloxacin

“…Observation of the micrographs suggest the presence of globular phases within a continuum phase. As the proportion of the hydrogel phase was only 25%, it can be expected that the dispersed phase would be the hydrogel [ 38 ]. Consequently, the continuum phase would be the oleogel phase.…”

Variations in Microstructural and Physicochemical Properties of Soy Wax/Soybean Oil-Derived Oleogels Using Soy Lecithin

“…The said temperature was chosen as fat-based food products are usually stored at this temperature. The formation of oleogel was subsequently validated using the inverted tube technique, which monitored the flow of the samples under gravity [ 32 ]. From this screening process, 11% w / w was found as the CGC of SW as it formed a stable oleogel compared to the lower concentrations of SW.…”