Preparation of konjac glucomannan-based pulsatile capsule for colonic drug delivery system and its evaluation in vitro and in vivo

The current study aims to develop and evaluate a colon-specific, pulsatile drug delivery system based on an impermeable capsule. A pulsatile capsule was prepared by sealing a 5-aminosalicylic acid rapid-disintegrating tablet inside an impermeable capsule body with a konjac glucomannan (KGM)–hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)–lactose plug. The drug delivery system showed a typical pulsatile release profile with a lag time followed by a rapid release phase. The lag time was determined by the KGM/HPMC/lactose ratio, the type of HPMC, and the plug weight. The addition of β-glucanase and rat cecal contents into the release medium shortened the lag time significantly, which predicted the probable enzyme sensitivity of the KGM plug. The in vivo studies show that the plasma drug concentration can only be detected 5 h after oral administration of the capsule, which indirectly proves the colon-specific characteristics. These results indicate that the pulsatile capsule may have therapeutic potential for colon-specific drug delivery.