Comparative evaluation of polymeric and waxy microspheres for combined colon delivery of ascorbic acid and ketoprofen

The goal of this work was to combine the ketoprofen anti-inflammatory effect with the ascorbic acid antioxidant properties for a more efficient treatment of colonic pathologies. With this aim, microspheres (MS) based on both waxy materials (ceresine, Precirol1 and Compritol1) or hydrophilic biopolymers (pectine, alginate and chitosan) loaded with the two drugs were developed, physicochemically characterized and compared in terms of entrapment efficiency, in vitro release profiles, potential toxicity and drug permeation properties across the Caco-2 cell line. Waxy MS revealed an high encapsulation efficiency of ketoprofen but a not detectable entrapment of ascorbic acid, while polymeric MS showed a good entrapment efficiency of both drugs. All MS need a gastro-resistant coating, to avoid any premature release of the drugs. Ketoprofen release rate from polymeric matrices was clearly higher than from the waxy ones. In contrast, the ASC release rate was higher, due to its high hydro-solubility. Cytotoxicity studies revealed the safety of all the formulations. Transport studies showed that the ketoprofen apparent permeability increased, when formulated with the different MS. In conclusion, only polymeric MS enabled an efficient double encapsulation of both the hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, and, in addition, presented higher drug release rate and stronger enhancer properties.