Chitosan–Sesbania Gum Mediated pH-Responsive Polyelectrolyte Complexes for Targeted Delivery of Diclofenac Sodium: Preparation and Spectroscopical Evaluation

Background: The implementation of chitosan as an enhanced vehicle for drug delivery is an interesting domain in the pharmaceutical dosage form. The combination of commonly accessible natural polysaccharides like gum may provide a new arrangement of dosage forms such as polyelectrolyte complex. Such modern improvements facilitate the modulated release of active, which can be beneficial in avoiding adverse consequences. There have been no reports on chitosan and sesbania gum-based polyelectrolyte complexes for drug delivery applications to date. Objectives: The chitosan-sesbania gum polyelectrolyte complex was developed for modified drug delivery of diclofenac sodium. Materials and Methods: pH-responsive polyelectrolyte complexes were accomplished utilizing the coacervation technique. It forms complex due to the capability of chitosan amine groups and sesbania gum carboxylic functionality. Results: The SEM analysis assured the aggregated polyhedral shape particles with a smooth surface of the final polyelectrolyte complex. The Diffractogram of the polyelectrolyte complex resulted in an amorphous form of diclofenac. The polyelectrolyte complex batch (B:3) showed satisfactory drug entrapment capabilities. It showed 88.96% of the drug release in 8 hr (pH 6.8). Importantly, it is because of the unprotonated condition of sesbania gum containing hydrophilic functionality that offers boosted hydrogen bonding via interaction with dissolution medium containing water molecules. Therefore, it offers the insertion of water molecules into a complex followed by the swelling of a matrix. Conclusion: The developed chitosan-sesbania gum polyelectrolyte complex offers a pH-responsive sustained release of diclofenac sodium. In the future, chitosan and sesbania gum-based polyelectrolyte complex can be preferred as an innovative drug carrier for diclofenac sodium delivery.