FORMULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF DEXIBUPROFEN MICROBEADS BY MICROEMULSIFICATON- IONOTROPIC GELATION TECHNIQUE

The objective of the present research work to formulate solid microemulsion microbeads containing Dexibuprofenwith sodium alginate/clay (hydrated aluminum silicate) solid matrix by Ionotropic Gelation technique using calciumchloride as cross-linking agent. The effects of different variables such as drug-polymer ratios, concentration ofcross-linking agent were evaluated on mean particle size, drug content, drug entrapment efficiency and drug releasepotential .The shape and surface characteristics were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). . Nosignificant drug-polymer interactions were observed in FT-IR studies. While increasing in the concentration ofsodium alginate dispersion increased size distribution, flow properties, mean particle size, swelling ratio and drugentrapment efficiency. While increasing cross-linking agent was significantly decreases the mean particle sizes ofdrug-loaded microbeads and found to be in the range 724 ± 0.54 to 622 ± 0.47. The percentage of drug entrapmentefficiency was obtained in the range of 57.20± 0.97- 97.80± 0.73%w/v. In-vitro drug release profile of microbeadswas examined in simulated gastric fluid pH1.2 for initial 2h, mixed phosphate buffer pH 6.8 up to 6h and simulatedintestinal fluid (SIF) pH 7.4 at end of 12h. Under neutral conditions the drug release from beads depends on swellingand erosion process resulting optimum level of drug released in a sustained manner and exhibited case-II transportkinetics.