Abstract

Balla Bhavani*, P. Shashank, G. Srikanth, CH. Sravani, M. Anjali and G. Nikhil

ABSTRACT

Floating drug delivery system is one of the novel drug delivery system. Floating drug delivery system have a bulk density less than gastric fluids and thus it remains buoyant in the stomach without affecting gastric emptying rate for a prolonged period of time. Esomeprazole is proton pump inhibitor drug with short elimination half-life 1.5to3 hrs. Floating microspheres of Esomeprazole were prepared by Emulsion solvent evaporation method by using HPMC K4M, HPMC K15M, HPMC K100M, Ethyl cellulose as polymers. The floating microspheres were evaluated for micrometrics properties, particle size, percentage yield, In-vitro buoyancy, incorporation efficiency, drug polymer compatibility (IR study), scanning electron microscopy and in-vitro drug release. Results show that as the concentration of polymer increases it affects the particle size, percentage yield, in-vitro buoyancy and in-vitro drug release of microspheres. It was also found that cumulative drug release with different HPMC grade was found to be HPMC K4M ≥ HPMC K15M ≥ HPMC K100M. The micromeritic property was found to be good and scanning electron microscopy confirmed their hollow structure with smooth surface. Formulation F9 prepared with HPMC K100M: Ethyl cellulose exhibited excellent micromeritic properties, percentage yield, In-vitro buoyancy, incorporation efficiency and percentage drug release 94 % for a period of 12 hrs. The data obtained in this study thus suggest that floating microspheres of Esomeprazole are promising for sustained drug delivery, which can reduce dosing frequency.