Formulation Development and Evaluation of Rebamipide Floating Microspheres

The aim of the current study was to formulate and characterize oral floating alginate microspheres of Rebamipide to sustain the gastric residence time and to target gastritis. The floating alginate microspheres were prepared by ionotropic gelation technique. Sodium alginate was used as polymer, sodium bicarbonate as gas generating agent, calcium chloride as cross-linking agent, HPMC K4, HPMC K15 as rate retarding agent. Microspheres were characterized for the Micromeretic properties, entrapment efficiency, buoyancy test, SEM analysis, FTIR, and in vitro release studies. The release studies were carried out in 0.1N HCl and the results were applied to various kinetic models.  Among the total 14 formulations F12 was optimized. The % yield of F12 formulation was found to be 93.73%. On the basis of optical microscopy, the particle size was 79.45±0.09µm. The % buoyancy, % entrapment efficiency and swelling index of F12 formulation was 94.2%, 95.5% and 96.16, respectively. The Cumulative % drug release of F12 formulation was 96.12±0.22% in 12h when compared with marketed product 95.15±0.23 in 1h.  SEM studies showed the particles were in spherical shape. Based on obtained results, floating alginate microspheres were of good candidate for targeting to GIT in the efficient management of gastritis.