Ionotropic gelation technique

The present study was to formulate and characterize oral floating microspheres of Pramipexole to sustain the gastric residence time and to target gastritis. The floating 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, as rate retarding agent. Microspheres were characterized for the Micromeretic properties, incorporation efficiency, buoyancy test, SEM analysis, FTIR, and in vitro diffusion studies. The diffusion studies were carried out in 0.1N HCl and the results were applied to various kinetic models.  Among the total 14 formulations F12 was found to be optimized on the basis of different evaluation parameters. The % yield of F12 formulation was found to be 98.58%. On the basis of optical microscopy, the particle size was 65.12±0.04µm. The % buoyancy, % entrapment efficiency and swelling index of F12 formulation was 98.12%, 96.56% and 97.10, respectively. The Cumulative % drug release of F12 formulation was 98.3±5.10% in 12h.  SEM studies showed the particles were in spherical shape. On the basis of obtained results, Floating microspheres were of good candidate for targeting to GIT.