Synthesis and evaluation of some polysaccharide-corticosteroide conjugates as colon specific prodrug.

To synthesize Prednisolone-succinate-dextran.βcyclodextrin and chitosan conjugate and to evaluate the potentiality of conjugates for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. Prednisolone was attached to dextran, chitosan and βcyclodextrin using succinate anhydride in an anhydrous environment catalyzed by 4-dimethylaminopyridine. The chemical structure of conjugates was identified by IR and NMR, The Prednoisolone conjugates was obtained in two steps and the in vivo drug release behavior of conjugates was investigated after oral administration of  prodrugs suspension. The Prednisolone conjugates was stable in rat stomach and small intestine and negligibly absorbed from these tracts and easily hydrolyzed by an esterase. The results of this study indicate that Prednisolone conjugates may be useful in selectively delivering corticosteroids to the colon.