Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) was investigated for the first time for the preparation of capsule shells for immediate and sustained release of drugs. The prepared capsule shells were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The BC capsule shells were studied for drug release using an USP type-I dissolution apparatus. Irrespective of the drying method and the thickness of the BC sheet, the capsule shells displayed an immediate drug release profile. Moreover, the addition of release-retardant cellulosic polymers sustained the drug release having first-order kinetics for hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium with R2 values of 0.9995 and 0.9954, respectively. Furthermore, these capsules shells remained buoyant in 0.1 N HCl (pH 1.2) solution up to 12 h. This study showed that BC is a promising alternative to gelatin capsules with both immediate and sustained drug release properties depending upon the compositions of the encapsulated materials.

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