Suresh V Kulkarni

The aim of the present study is to develop and evaluate floating microspheres containing candesartan cilexetil in order to achieve extended release of drug and thereby to enhance the patient compliance. Floating microspheres were prepared by using solvent evaporation method. The microspheres were formulated using different polymers like ethyl cellulose, HPMC K4M and eudragit RSPO 100 in different concentrations and combinations. The prepared floating microspheres were characterized for their percentage yield (95.44 - 98.52%), drug entrapment efficiencies (71.52 - 97.87 %) and percentage buoyancy (93.45 - 98.66%). The FTIR and DSC studies revealed absence of interactions between drug and selected polymers. In vitro release studies were performed in 0.1 N HCl which showed a drug release of 97.62 % at 24 hour in case of formulation (F7). Fitting the in vitro drug release data to Korsmeyer equation indicated that Fickian diffusion is the mechanism of drug release.