Abstract
Objective: A novel multiparticulate system for the gastric delivery of Diltiazem (DTZ) was developed for effective treatment of hypertension. Materials and methods: Floating microspheres of ethylcellulose and Eudragit loaded with DTZ were successfully developed and evaluated for their gastro-retentive and controlled-release properties. The effect of various process variables on the particle morphology, micromeritic properties, in vitro floating behavior, percentage drug entrapment, and in vitro drug release were studied. Results and discussion: Microspheres were found to be porous with spherical shape. The entrapment efficiency of optimized formulation was found to be maximum (69.24%) as compared to other formulations. The buoyancy of microspheres was observed in the range from 44.48 to 67.68% in simulated gastric fluid. The release pattern of DTZ in simulated gastric fluid from floating microspheres followed Higuchi matrix model and Peppas-Korsmeyer model. Conclusion: Preliminary results from the study suggested that these floating microspheres could used to incorporate other anti-hypertensive drugs. Such developed formulation will be subjected to in vivo studies in future in order to prove their efficacy against hypertension.
Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Bilaspur
(C.G.) 495 009, India