Table I.
Formulation, Shape and Mean Diameter of the MZ-Loaded Conventional Beads, Emulsion Gel Beads and Wax-Incorporated Emulsion Gel Beads Made of Calcium Pectinate
| Formulation and designation | Composition (g /100 g of mixture) | Shape | Mean diameter, mm±SD (n = 50) | Buoyancya (n = 20) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pectin | MZ | Olive oil | Wax | ||||
| Conventional beads | |||||||
| CaPG beads | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Oval | 2.45 ± 0.14 | S |
| Emulsion gel beads | |||||||
| EB/20 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 0 | Spherical | 2.21 ± 0.11 | S |
| EB/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 0 | Spherical | 2.25 ± 0.05 | F |
| Wax-incorporated emulsion gel beads | |||||||
| Polyethylene glycol 10000 (melting range = 53–55°C) | |||||||
| PEG4/20 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 4 | Spherical | 2.34 ± 0.09 | F |
| Glyceryl monostearate (melting range = 58–63°C) | |||||||
| GMS4/20 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 4 | Spherical | 2.35 ± 0.21 | F |
| GMS4/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 4 | Spherical | 2.44 ± 0.08 | F |
| GMS12/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 12 | Spherical | 2.36 ± 0.15 | F |
| Stearyl alcohol (melting range = 55–57°C) | |||||||
| SA4/20 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 4 | Spherical | 2.33 ± 0.14 | F |
| SA4/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 4 | Spherical | 2.41 ± 0.42 | F |
| SA12/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 4 | Spherical | 2.23 ± 0.08 | F |
| Carnauba wax (melting range = 78–80°C) | |||||||
| CW4/20 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 4 | Spherical | 2.35 ± 0.20 | S |
| CW4/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 4 | Spherical | 2.46 ± 0.11 | F |
| CW12/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 12 | Spherical | 2.41 ± 0.14 | F |
| CW16/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 16 | Spherical | 2.40 ± 0.07 | F |
| Spermaceti wax (melting range = 43–53°C) | |||||||
| SW4/20 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 4 | Drop-like | 2.34 ± 0.17 | S |
| SW4/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 4 | Drop-like | 2.45 ± 0.07 | F |
| SW12/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 12 | Drop-like | 2.37 ± 0.10 | F |
| SW16/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 16 | Drop-like | 2.30 ± 0.20 | F |
| White wax (melting range = 62–65°C) | |||||||
| WW4/20 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 4 | Spherical | 2.29 ± 0.18 | S |
| WW4/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 4 | Spherical | 2.38 ± 0.07 | F |
| WW12/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 12 | Spherical | 2.25 ± 0.12 | F |
| WW12/30 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 16 | Spherical | 2.20 ± 0.11 | F |
MZ metronidazole
aBuoyancy test in simulated gastric fluid, and S sink, F float (immediately, and still afloat for at least 24 h).