Formulation and Characterization of Ileo-colonic targeted Mucoadhesive Microspheres containing flurbiprofen for treatment of Ulcerative Colitis Pande Saikat*, Vashi Janu, Solanki Ajay Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, A. R. College of Pharmacy and G. H. Patel Institute of Pharmacy, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, Gujarat, India *Corresponding Author E-mail: saikatpande@gmail.com
Online published on 10 August, 2020. Abstract Flurbiprofen is a BCS class II, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent (NSAIA) used in treatment of ulcerative colitis. Due to its short biological half-life it has dosing frequency more than one time. However frequent intake of Flurbiprofen, may lead to many gastric complications such as gastric ulceration, bleeding etc. Thus, objective of this project is to develop ileo-colonic targeted mucoadhesive microspheres of Flurbiprofen which will not only reduce the gastric complication but will also improve the patient compliance. The core microspheres were prepared by emulsification-crosslinking technique using chitosan as polymer. To make colon specific delivery system, they were further coated utilizing enteric coating polymers i.e. Eudragit L 100 and Eudragit S 100 by emulsion solvent evaporation method. Prepared microspheres were subjected to various characterization parameters such as particle size, surface analysis, swelling index, percentage encapsulation and in vitro drug release analysis. Cross-linked chitosan microspheres were successfully prepared having particle size of 48.22±1.91μm. Eudragit coated chitosan microspheres showed drug entrapment up to 98.40%. After coating particle size was considerably increased and was in the range of 157.63–189.23 μm. SEM photograph indicated that drug loaded microspheres were of spherical shape with rough surface. From the in-vitro release study, microspheres coated with combination of Eudragit L 100 and Eudragit S 100 showed sustained and desired drug release profile. The microspheres prepared using chitosan and coated with combination of both enteric coating polymers can be potential carriers for colon targeting of anti-inflammatory drug, Flurbiprofen in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Top Keywords Colon targeting, Flurbiprofen, Chitosan, Eudragit L 100, Eudragit S 100, Microspheres. Top |