FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF COLON SPECIFIC DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM OF SULFASALAZINE

Site-specific drug delivery systems are designed to provide therapeutic drug concentrations at targeted body sites, achieving effective treatment while minimizing impact on non-target tissues. Targeted drug delivery specifically directs drugs into designated biological locations, optimizing therapeutic outcomes and reducing side effects. Among current advances, colon- specific drug delivery systems have gained considerable interest. It promises for both treatment of local diseases and systemic delivery of challenging pharmaceuticals. The oral route remains the widely accepted method for systemic drug administration, constituting about 50% of available drug delivery systems due to advantages like patient acceptance, compliance, and ease of administration. Research over the past decade has focused on developing colon- targeted formulations for conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and constipation, as well as the delivery of proteins, peptides, anti-asthmatic, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic drugs. Sulfasalazine, a non-steroidal anti- inflammatory agent commonly used in IBD treatment, is ideal for micro sponges due to its poor water solubility, allowing for controlled and targeted drug release. Micro sponges, which are small, spherical, porous carriers, can encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, protect active moieties from physicochemical degradation, and enable controlled release. These carriers can be formulated into various dosage forms including gels, creams, lotions, sunscreens, and especially colon-specific tablets. Incorporating sulfasalazine micro sponges in colon-targeted tablets optimizes site-specific drug delivery, enhances controlled drug release, improves patient compliance, and helps prolong dosage intervals, representing a significant advancement in drug delivery technology for the treatment.