Synergistic Ionotropic Gelation of LM-Pectin and <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Gum: Development of Dual-Mechanism Gastroretentive Microbeads for Amoxicillin Delivery

Gastroretentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) enhance therapeutic efficacy for drugs with narrow upper gastrointestinal absorption windows. In the present study, dual-mechanism floating mucoadhesive microbeads of amoxicillin trihydrate (AMX) were developed by ionotropic gelation using low-methoxy pectin (LM-pectin) and Moringa oleifera gum (MOG). Utilizing a randomized 32 full factorial design, the optimized formulation exhibited high entrapment efficiency (83.75 ± 1.23%), prolonged buoyancy (>8 h), and controlled AMX release (∼65% over 8 h). Solid state (FT-IR, DSC, and XRD) analyses confirmed successful drug incorporation and partial amorphization of AMX within the polymer matrix, whereas SEM revealed heterogeneous surface characteristics typical of dehydrated polymeric networks. Release kinetics followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model (n = 0.734), indicating anomalous transport arising from the combined contributions of drug diffusion and polymer relaxation. Mechanistically, the calcium-mediated interpenetrating polymer network between LM-pectin and MOG enhanced matrix integrity, regulated swelling behavior, and minimized burst release. By synergistically combining floating and mucoadhesive mechanisms, the developed system is expected to prolong gastric residence and sustain local AMX delivery. Overall, the LM-pectin-MOG composites represent promising GRDDS carriers for localized H. pylori eradication and warrant further in vivo investigations.