Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF FLOATING MICROSPHERES OF AN ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE DRUG TRANDOLAPRIL

P. Kezia Kereen and I. Bala Tripura Sundari*

ABSTRACT

The present study involves preparation and evaluation of floating microspheres of an anti-hypertensive drug trandolapril as a model drug for prolongation of gastric residence time using both gas forming agents like sodium bicarbonate and low density polymers like Eudragit of various grades and HPMC. The effervescent microspheres were prepared by Ionotropic gelation technique using polymer sodium alginate along with guar gum and xanthan gum and non-effervescent microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation emulsification technique using HPMC, Ethylcellulose and Eudragit RLPO and RSPO. The microsphere was evaluated for angle of repose, bulk density, tapped density, Carr's index, Hausner‘s ratio, percent yield and drug entrapment. The shape and surface morphology of prepared microsphere were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Invitro drug release studies were performed by using USP Dissolution test apparatus (type I) at 37 +_0.5o c and 50 rpm speed. To study release behaviour kinetic analysis were performed on the optimised formulation. The dissolution data were fitted to zero order, First order, Higuchi model and Peppas model. The prepared microspheres exhibited prolong release and remained buoyant for more than 12 hrs. The optimised formulation (F6) showed good percent yield, drug entrapment and drug release.

Keywords: Floating microspheres, Trandolapril, Effervescent and Non-Effervescent excipients.