Citric acid cross-linking of a hydrogel from Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis M.) engenders a pH-responsive, superporous, and smart material for drug delivery

fate of the tablet formulation was observed through an X-ray study. The CL-ALH-based tablet safely passed through the stomach of a stray dog without any significant erosion and then disintegrated in the small intestine and colon. These findings confirmed that the CL-ALH is an effective excipient for designing a sustained-release drug delivery system for the small intestine and colon.