Sustained Delivery of Propranolol By Using Multiparti-culate Gastroretentive Drug Delivery System

Ravindra A Fursule¹, Ch Niranjan Patra², Satish B Kosalge¹, Dipak D Patil¹, Prashant K Deshmukh^1*

¹H. R. Patel Women’s College of Pharmacy, Karwand Naka, Shirpur, Dist-Dhule (Maharashtra), India 425 405

²College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mohuda, Berhampur (GM), Odissa, India 760 002

*For Correspondence:  Tel: +91992345636  Fax:  02563255108  E-mail: pkdesh@rediffmail.com

International Journal of Health Research, December 2008; 1(4): 241-247 (e146p61-67)

Received: 02-Jun-08                             Revised: 03-Jun-08                               Accepted: 12-Jun-08

Original Research Article

Abstract

PURPOSE: Gastroretentive systems can significantly prolong the gastric residence time of drugs. If a drug is stable in gastric acid, prolonged gastric retention improves bioavailability. The objective of the present investigation was to develop an extended and controlled release composition and formulation of propranolol using expandable, gelling, swellable hydrocolloid polymer along with mineral oil.

METHODS: A formulation was prepared without using mineral oil by conventional ionotropic gelation method.  All  other formulations of oil entrapped floating gel beads of propranolol hydrochloride were prepared by using emulsion gelation method in which sodium alginate was used as a gelling agent and mineral oil was used to impart buoyancy to the formulation Spherical gel beads were formed instantaneously. The prepared beads were evaluated for diameter, surface morphology, encapsulation efficiency and drug release.

RESULTS: Low concentration of oil containing formulation exhibited greater release of drug. As the concentration of oil increases, drug release decreases to certain extent. Percentage buoyancy of floating propranolol hydrochloride gel beads was found satisfactory. The highest mean diameter was observed in the formulation with 30% of mineral oil. The formulation with 35% of mineral oil had the highest drug loading and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the beads were spherical in shape with rough surfaces.

CONCLUSION: Oil entrapped gel beads can be used as floating drug delivery system for extended drug release for both local and systemic drug delivery.

Keywords: Floating drug delivery system; Emulsion gelation; Sodium alginate; Mineral oil; Propranolol hydrochloride.