Potential of Sustained Release Microparticles of Metformin in Veterinary Medicine: An in Vivo Pharmacokinetic Study of Metformin Microparticles as Oral Sustained Release Formulation in Rabbits.
Abstract Background: Metformin hydrochloride a biguanide derivative has been widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes in humans. In veterinary medicine, metformin has been increasing his potential in different species as equids for insulin dysregulation, dogs and cats with diabetes. It is a highly soluble hydrophilic drug, shows incomplete absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and the absolute bioavailability is 40-60 % with a short biological half-life of 1.5-1.6 h in humans. In this study, to improve its efficacy a sustained-release microparticles of metformin was developed by loading within poly lactic acid (PLA) polymer followed by an in vivo pharmacokinetics study in rabbits. Results: Pharmacokinetic study in rabbits showed the sustained-release characteristic from the prepared microparticles with delayed time to reach maximum concentrations Tmax, decreased Cmax, increased Mean Residence Time (MRT) and half-life compared to the pure drug solution. Physicochemical characterization suggested that PLA and metformin hydrochloride interacted within the microparticles via hydrogen bonds and that the drug was transformed to an amorphous state. Conclusions: The The pharmacokinetics parameters resulted in delayed Tmax, increased MRT and t1/2, decreased Cmax of metformin from microparticles that show promise for prolonged/sustained release of metformin after oral administration in different animal species affected by insulin disorders. PLA microparticles provided sustained release of the drug, and these systems can be useful as drug carriers for hydrophilic drugs in long term disease treatment such as diabetes.