Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International

Objectives: Aim of present work is to prepare and evaluate Sustained release microspheres of Acebrophylline for treatment of Asthma.

Experimental work: In present investigation, attempt was made to prepare sustained release microspheres of Acebrophylline with different polymer ratio using Ionic gelation method. Drug- excipient compatibility studies were performed by FTIR. The best suited Microspheres formulation was found on the basis production yield, entrapment efficiency and in vitro release study. Optimized batch of microspheres (B2) was characterized for FTIR, DSC, and SEM analysis. The drug release data of optimized batch was fitted into different release kinetic models. The optimized batch of microspheres (B2) was subjected for the short term stability study at 40 ± 2°C with RH of 75% for a period of 1 month.

Results and discussion: There was no interaction found between drug and excipients. Sodium alginate (2%) concentration, Eudragit RS-100 (1:2) ratio gave highest sustainable property and CaCl₂ (2.5%) concentration had a good cross linking property. This observation done on the basis of production yield, entrapment efficiency and In vitro release study. The Microspheres prepared from Ionic gelation method had Drug : Eudragit RS100 (1:2), 2 % Sodium alginate and 2.5 % CaCl₂ (B2) give 99.2 % drug release over the periods of 12 hr. The drug release from optimized microspheres formulation (B2) follows first order release kinetic. DSC study showed the melting behavior of drug present into microspheres. SEM studies showed that optimized microspheres were spherical and rough surface.  Stability study proved that optimized formulation (B2) was stable.

Conclusion:  Drug: Polymer ratio and Volume of CaCl₂ had significant effect on % Entrapment efficiency and Drug release. From the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) study observed that microspheres was spherical and rough surface. Non Fickian diffusion was the mode of drug release from Acebrophylline- loaded microspheres. After stability study no physical changes & almost same drug release was observed in microspheres. Hence, the formulation B2 was stable.