FORMULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROSPHERES OF NITAZOXANIDE BY CHEMICAL CROSSLINKING METHOD

The work investigated the design and evaluation of microspheres of Nitazoxanide by Ionotropic gelation technique met. 32 Factorial designs were used and concentration of polymer carbopol-934 (X1) and Ethyl cellulose (X2) were selected as the independent variables. The surface morphology study by SEM indicated that microspheres were spherical with smooth surface. There was no interaction between the drug and polymers, as studied by FTIR study. The prepared microspheres were characterized by entrapment efficiency, particle size micromeritic properties. It was observed that on increasing polymer concentration of formulations, % yield, the entrapment efficiency and particle size were increased whereas % drug release decreased. The In Vitro release study was done using U.S.P. dissolution rate basket type apparatus in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 for 10 hr. It shows that on increasing polymer concentration the drug release of all formulations was gradually decreased. In Vitro mucoadhesion study depicts that as the polymer concentration increased, mucoadhesive nature of the formulation was also increased. The microspheres of NTZ (formulation F9) showed best results due to highest drug entrapment efficiency (85.50%), and percentage drug release after 10.0 hr. was 50.25%. The rate of release followed First order kinetics. The microspheres exhibits good mucoadhesive properties in in- vitro wash-off test at pH 7.4 (Intestinal pH) than pH 1.2 (gastric pH),because the drug was completely absorbed in Gastrointestinal tract, Therefore, it can be concluded that Nitazoxanide Loaded algino-carbopol-934 microspheres can be formulated for sustained drug delivery of Nitazoxanide used in Chronic Hipatitis-C. Keywords: Mucoadhesive microspheres, Nitazoxanide, Carbopol-934, Ethyl cellulose, Sodium Alginate, Factorial design.