Abstract

DEVELOPMENT AND IN VITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF MEFENAMIC ACID LOADED MUCOADHESIVE ALGINATE MICROBEADS BY IONOTROPIC GELATION METHOD

Gomathi M.*, Jothimanivannan C., Kalaiselvi C., Praveen kumar M., Sampath Kumar T. and Kalpana C.

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Abstract

The purpose of present investigation was to develop mucoadhesive alginate microbeads with different crosslinking agents (Calcium chloride & Zinc chloride) and (Carbapol 934 P & HPMC E3) as mucoadhesive polymers with drug as Mefenamic acid by ionotropic gelation method. Mefenamic acid is an anthranilic acid derivative and acts as an anti inflammatory drug. According to their Biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS), Mefenamic acid belongs to class II compound having poor aqueous solubility and high permeability. Biological half life of Mefenamic acid is 2 hours and exhibiting high absorption rate at the intestinal pH. FTIR studies showed that there was no interaction between the drug and polymer. Microbeads were evaluated for Percentage yield, bulk density, tapped density, compressibility index, Hausner ratio, Particle size, drug content, entrapment efficiency, swelling index and in vitro wash off test. Formulations exhibited significant swelling rates when exposed to alkaline medium. The results of in vitro mucoadhesive wash off test showed that the microbeads remain adhered to the mucus mrmbrane for longer period of time. In vitro drug release studies were performed in USP type I (Basket) apparatus, simulated gastric fluids for first 2 hours and Phosphate buffer pH 7.4 at 37 ± 0.5ᵒ C.

Keywords: Mefenamic acid, Zinc chloride, Calcium chloride, Carbopol 934 P, HPMC E3.