Preparation and Evaluation of Pellets Containing Ellagic Acid for Targeted Drug Delivery in Vitro

Introduction: The studies have shown that the antioxidant compounds of ellagic acid can reduce the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to prepare and evaluate a new drug delivery system for pellets containing ellagic acid to the end parts of the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT). Materials and Methods: The pellets were made using the extrusion-spheronization technique. Moreover, the physicochemical properties, including particle size distribution, image analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIS), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and in vitro tests of drug release under simulated laboratory conditions of stomach, small intestine, and colon were investigated in this study. Results: The manufactured pellets were spherical and had a smooth surface. The particle size distribution analysis demonstrated that the majority of the pellets have sizes in the range of 710-1400 μm. These pellets slowly released their drug content in a similar medium of GIT. Evaluation of the stereomicroscope images of the pellets using the Image Analysis software showed that the aspect ratio and sphericity were 1.08±0.13 and 0.88±0.09, respectively. The SEM images showed that the pellets had a smooth and uniform surface. DSC and FTIR tests showed the absence of interference between the drug and the excipients used in making the pellet. Conclusion: The optimized pellet formulation (avicel 60%, lactose 28%, and polyvinylpyrrolidone 2%) demonstrated uniform drug release in media simulating the small intestine and colon.