Formulation and Evaluation of Floating Pulsatile Microspheres of Aceclofenac for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The purpose of present work is to develop microspheres for floating pulsatile release of aceclofenac intended for chronopharmacotherapy. Floating pulsatile concept was applied to increase the gastric residence of the dosage form having lag phase followed by a burst release. The floating pulsatile microspheres were prepared by emulsion solvent diffusion technique. Polymers used for the preparation were Eudragit L100 and Eudragit S100 which gets solubilized at pH above 6 and 7 respectively. The floating microsphere provides two phase release pattern with initial lag time during floating in acidic medium followed by rapid release in phosphate buffer. This approach suggested the use of floating pulsatile microsphere as promising drug delivery for site and time specific release of aceclofenac for chronotherapy of rheumatoid arthritis.