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Background: Irvingia gabonensis kernel polymer has gained attention in drug delivery systems because of its compatibility and degradation under natural and physiological conditions., Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate Irvingia gabonensis polymer as a matrix system for the controlled delivery of ibuprofen in comparison to xanthan gum and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC)., Material and Methods: Irvingia gabonensis polymer was extracted using established methods and dried using the ovenand freeze-drying methods. Ibuprofen tablets were prepared by direct compression and the effects of polymer concentration (10-50%), excipients (lactose, microcrystalline cellulose and dicalcium phosphate dihydrate) and polymers (xanthan gum and HPMC) on the mechanical and drug release properties of the tablets were evaluated. Density measurements and the Heckel and Kawakita equations were used to determine the compression properties of the tablets. Friability, crushing strength and the crushing strength-friability ratio (CSFR) were used to evaluate the mechanical properties of the tablets, while dissolution times were used to evaluate drug release from the matrices. The drug release mechanisms were determined by fitting the dissolution data into classic kinetic equations., Results: Irvingia gabonensis polymer deformed plastically with a fast onset and a high amount of plastic deformation compared with xanthan gum and HPMC. This polymer was directly compressible and formed intact non-disintegrating tablets; the mechanical and dissolution properties of Irvingia gabonensis polymer tablets generally decreased with increasing concentration of ibuprofen. The ranking of dissolution times was xanthan gum > freeze-dried Irvingia gabonensis > HPMC > oven-dried Irvingia gabonensis. The addition of the excipients improved the mechanical properties of the tablets, aided ibuprofen release, and altered the release kinetics, which was largely defined by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Increasing the proportion of xanthan gum and HPMC in the matrices resulted in a decreased amount of ibuprofen released after 9 h, with xanthan gum having a greater effect., Conclusions: Irvingia gabonensis polymer matrices may be effective in the preparation of controlled release tablets, and their right combination with xanthan gum or HPMC could provide a time-independent release for longer durations.

Background: Mucilage and pectin are both natural polymers with the advantages of availability and biodegradability. Microspheres made from biodegradable polymers can break down naturally after performing their tasks., Objectives: The study aimed to use mucilage and pectin from the leaves of Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd. as polymer matrices for the formulation of microspheres, with ibuprofen as the model drug., Material and Methods: Both polymers were examined under a microscope and evaluated using measurements of viscosity, density, flow properties, swelling power, elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the degree of esterification (DE) for pectin. The microspheres were prepared using the ionotropic gelation method and alginate:mucilage/pectin at ratios of 1:1 and 1:2. They were assessed for swellability, drug entrapment effectiveness and drug release profile., Results: The mucilage particles were ovoid while pectin particles were irregularly shaped. Pectin had higher particle, bulk and tapped densities than mucilage, while mucilage had a higher swelling power and a better flow than pectin. Talinum triangulare pectin is a low-methoxyl pectin with a DE of 7.14%. The FTIR spectra showed no interaction between the polymers and ibuprofen. The surface morphology of the microspheres without ibuprofen was smooth, while those with ibuprofen revealed a spongy-like mesh. The swelling power of the microspheres was higher in phosphate buffer with a pH of 7.2 than in distilled water. The entrapment efficiency ranged within 39.57-60.43% w/w, with microspheres containing alginate:mucilage/pectin ratio of 1:1 having higher entrapment efficiency. Microspheres with polymer at a ratio of 1:1 provided a longer release (>2 h), while microspheres with polymer blend of 1:2 provided an immediate release of ibuprofen., Conclusions: The polymers of T. triangulare could be used as matrices in microsphere formulations.