DIAA NOURI MAHMOOD, HANAN J KASSAB
Journal of Research in Pharmacy - 2025;29(6):2373-2385
The present work describes the formulation of bigels as a flexible delivery system for beta-sitosterol. Beta sitosterol-a phytosterol that, over these years, has been proved to possess anti-oral cavity infection properties besides other health-promoting properties, improving patient compliance. Accordingly, two oleogel formulations F1and F2 were prepared as per the concentrations of the following in each: soybean oil, oleic acid, Tween 20, Span 60, beta-sitosterol, and glycerin. Hydrogels H1 and H2 were separately prepared by dispersing MC and HPMC in water, respectively. Mixing these oleogels separately with hydrogels resulted in the formation of four bigel preparations: B1 (F1+H1), B2 (F2+H1), B3 (F1+H2), and B4 (F2+H2). The study exploited the merits developed by various types of gels in their own fashions. Texture studies were performed along with the study of drug content, spread ability, Oil binding capacity OBC%, and FTIR studies. Whereas bigels B1 and B2 were superior regarding different parameters like pH, spreadability, OBC%, mucoadhesive force, and enchanced antibacterial activity. FTIR confirmed the stability and compatibility of the components. In vitro drug release from B1 and B2 was faster from that of B3, B4, and from oleogels F1 and F2. Bigels B1 and B2 showed excellent antibacterial properties aganist oral pathogens; hence, their application proved to be quite effective for the treatment of infectious diseases of the oral cavity.
