FORMULATION, CHARCTERIZATION AND IN-VITRO EVALUTION OF FLOATING MICROSPHERES OF NATEGLINIDE

Abstract

The present study involves design and characterization of floating microspheres with
Nateglinide as model drug for prolongation of gastric residence time. Nateglinide Floating
Microspheres were prepared by w/o/o emulsification solvent diffusion technique using rate
controlling polymers ethyl cellulose and hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose. The shape and surface
morphology of prepared microspheres were characterized by optical and scanning electron
microscopy respectively. FTIR analyses the absences of drug-polymer interaction. In vitro drug
release studies were performed and drug release kinetics was evaluated using the linear
regression method. Effects of polymer concentration, solvent composition, particle size, drug
entrapment efficiency and drug release were also observed. The prepared microspheres
exhibited prolonged drug release (more than 12 h) and remained buoyant for > 24 h. The mean
particle size increased and the drug release rate decreased at higher polymer concentration. In
vitro studies demonstrated diffusion- controlled drug release from the microspheres.