Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

The purpose of thecurrent research involves the design, development and characterization of Gentamicin floating microspheres to improve the residence time in the stomach without affecting, and contact with the gastric mucosa.

Capillary extrusion technique used for the preparation of gentamicin floating microspheres by using sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium tripolyphosphate as a cross-linking agent, and chitosan as apolymer. After preparation, the surface morphology of microspheres was evaluated by the optical microscope and scanning electron microscope.

During this study, the effect of the stirring rate, polymer concentration and cross-linking concentration on the percent yield, in vitro floating behavior, and physical state of the incorporated drug, drug loading, and in-vitro drug releasewere examined. The prepared microspheres show prolonged drug release (twelve hours) and remained buoyant for more than eleven hours. The microspheres were found to be highly porous in nature and regular in shape. The Gentamicin release rate was found to be higher in the case of microspheres prepared at a higher agitation speed and decreased with increasing the polymer and cross-linking agent concentration. All formulations established favorable in vitro floating characteristics. The drug entrapment improved from 65.20 to 95.40%, by increasing polymer-to-drug ratio. The key release mechanism was found to be diffusion. it is observed that there is no significant changesin swelling ratio, % drug content, buoyancy lag time, or in vitro dissolution pattern after storage at accelerated stability condition for six months.

Thus, the developed Gentamicin floating microspheres can demonstrate to be potential candidates for any intragastric conditions, as multiple-unit delivery systems areadaptable.