Effect of Cross-Linking on the Pattern on Drug Release in Chitosan Based Ibuprofen Implants

Rheumatoid arthritis, a major joint pain problem in the elderly, has led to increased research on its causes and treatment. This study aims to develop an implant formulation of Ibuprofen using plain drug, cross-linked chitosan, and chitosan as release retardant matrix. The implants were evaluated for optimal formulation to achieve maximum sustained effect over specific days. The drug and polymer were found to be compatible, with drug content ranging from 91.67-99.62%, diameter ranging from 7.15-7.40mm, hardness ranging from 2.6-3.4kg/cm3, thickness ranging from 2.22-2.59mm, and weight ranging from 93.2-101.2mg resp. The formulation A4 and A5 showed sustained action compared to other formulations of both cross-linked and non-cross-linked batches. The study concludes that chitosan inclusion changes the drug’s release profile, resulting in sustained action on the prepared implants.