DEVELOPMENT AND IN VITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF GASTRO RETENTIVE FLOATING MICROBALLOONS OF DIACEREIN

The research work was mainly focused on the formulation and in vitro evaluation of floating microballoons of Diacerein as to retain the formulation for a prolonged period of time and deliver the drug to the site of absorption. The microballoons were prepared by non-aqueous solvent evaporation method using polymers such as different concentrations of ethyl cellulose and HPMC K4M, in different ratios and Diacerein in each formulation. The prepared microballoons were characterized by polymers compatibility (FTIR), The FTIR spectra of drug and different polymers showed no shift in peak, hence no interaction. Micrometric properties such as Bulk density, Tapped density, Carr’s index and Angle of repose. Other properties including percentage of floating buoyancy, drug entrapment efficiency, percentage of yield, in vitro drug release and SEM studies. The prepared floating microballoons were found to produce the percentage of yield was in the range of 82.7 - 98.5 %, drug entrapment efficiency was 68 %-98.9 %, percentage of floating buoyancy was 70.2 - 80.6 % and in vitro drug release was 94.67 % per 12hrs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed their spherical size, perforated smooth surface and a hollow cavity in them. The best drug release, entrapment efficiency and percentage of floating buoyancy profiles were seen with formulation F10 at the ratio of drug to polymers (HPMC K4M) of 1:5.