Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF METHYL PREDNISOLONE LOADED MICROSPONGES FOR COLON DRUG DELIVERY: PHARMACOKINETIC AND IN-VITRO STUDY

Ravi Dnyandeo Hole* and Vishal Bharat Babar

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to develop Methyl prednisolone Loaded micro sponges for colon specific drug delivery. The micro sponges formulations were prepared by QESD technique (solvent diffusion method) employing eudragit RS 100 as a polymer. The compatibility of the drug with formulation components was established by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy. Afterwards, micro sponge formulations were prepared by gradually increasing the drug: polymer ratio. The surface morphology, particle size, production yield, and drug entrapment efficiency of micro sponges were examined. Shape and surface morphology of the micro sponges were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Particle size of prepared micro sponges was observed in the range of 465 ± 10.5 to 80.2 ± 15 μm. The drug
entrapment efficiency of the micro sponges was found in the range of 63.38 ± 0.90 to 92.75 ± 1.66 %. The in-vitro dissolution studies of micro sponges in the media with different pH (1.2, 7.4 and 6.8) showed that drug release in colon could be controlled by Eudragit RS 100. It was observed that the release kinetics on the basis of the highest r2 values best fitted a zero-order kinetic model. Cumulative release for the micro sponges over 8 h ranged from 45 - 89 %. Plasma drug concentration of drug was also studied for optimized formulation and Cmax, Tmax, and AUC (area under curve) was also observed.

Keywords: Micro sponges, QESD technique Eudragit Rs 100, Methyl prednisolone, Polyvinyl Alcohol.