Formulation and Evaluation of Egg Albumin Based Delayed Release Microspheres of Itraconazole

The present study deals with the formulation and evaluation of egg albumin based delayed release microspheres of itraconazole, which is drug of choice for systemic fungal infections. The study was undertaken in order to achieve the best possible drug-polymer (egg albumin) ratio to get delayed drug release using natural biodegradable polymer. The preparation of microsphere was done by using heat denaturation technique. The prepared microspheres were evaluated on various parameters like the size, morphology, micromeritic properties, percent drug entrapment, in-vitro dissolution studies and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM).The in vitro dissolution studies were carried out for 10 hrs. at pH 6.8 which showed that the drug release for the batch EA4 (drug: polymer ratio – 1:4) was 87.02 ± 5.89 after 10 hrs. The hypothesis of this research work i.e delayed drug release using natural biodegradable polymer was well supported by results of its evaluation.