Publication Ref No.: IJPRD/2010/PUB/ARTI/VOV-2/ISSUE-7/SEP/005 ISSN 0974 – 9446          www.ijprd.com 1 FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND INFLUENCE OF SOLUTION RETICULATION PROPERTIES UPON PECTIN BEADS OF METOPROLOL SUCCINATE Dr. Swati Jagdale 1 *, Monali Sali 1 , Ajay Barhate 1 , Vinayak Jadhav 1 ,Janardan Loharkar 2 , Bhanudas Kuchekar 1 , Anuruddha Chabukswar 1 1 MAEER’s Maharashtra Institute of Pharmacy, Paud Road, Kothrud, Pune – 411 038. 2 Jalgaon Chemical Private Limited, Jalgaon. Maharashtra, India Email: jagdaleswati@rediffmail.com ABSTRACT In this study, pectinate gel beads were produced by ionotropic gelation method with different solutions of cross-linking agents and Metoprolol succinate was entrapped as model drug. The influence of these formulation parameters was investigated upon bead properties and upon their performance to target the colon. Zinc pectinate beads obtained with 10% of counter-ions solution at pH 1.6 exhibited the strongest gel network due to “egg-box” dimmer formation helped by hydrogen bonding. Furthermore the gel network formed at low pH was arranged in a compact three-fold conformation. Thus, this matrix structure induced the lowest drug release in the upper gastro-intestinal tract (pH 1.2 following by pH 7.4). However Metoprolol succinate release occurred specifically in the colon and the release rate can be modulated by the counter-ion concentration during the reticulation process. This approach using pectinate beads is very promising as efficient carrier for specific delivery of drug into the colon, after oral administration. Key Words: Colon targeting; Pectinate beads; Low-methoxy pectin; Ionotropic gelation. INTRODUCTION Colonic drug delivery is intended for the local treatment of ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and can potentially be used for colon cancer or the systemic administration of drugs that are adversely affected by the upper gastro-intestinal (GI) tract [1] . The advantages of Dr. Swati Jagdale