Der Pharmacia Lettre
Abstract
Author(s): Yogesh P. Pund, Atishkumar S. Mundada
The oil entrapped floating beads of Valsartan were prepared employing ionotropic gelation method using low methoxy pectin obtained from Helianthus annuus and Passiflora edulis flavicarpa. The retention of drug delivery system in the stomach for longer time is essential to improve the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacies of the drug used for the treatment of diseases like as hypertension, diabetic nephropathy and heart failure. The floating beads of valsartan were prepared to improve the release profile of the drug and also to achieve drug targeting to the stomach via gastric retention. The developed formulations were evaluated for physicochemical properties like beads size, surface morphology, buoyancy, floating lag time, swelling ratio and swelling index, percent drug content, drug entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release. The average bead size was found to be between 190 Ã?â??Ã?± 8.3 to 208 Ã?â??Ã?± 7.4 Ã?â??Ã?µm. All batches of beads exhibited complete and excellent buoyancy over a period of 12 to 14 hrs. The drug content and drug entrapment efficiency was achieved between 83 to 96 %. All batches exhibited good swelling ability which ensured extended drug release nearly up to 14 hr in a controlled manner. It can be concluded from the present investigation that low methoxy pectin obtained from Helianthus annuus and Passiflora edulis flavicarpa can be used to develop excellent gastroretentive drug delivery system to retain and deliver drug in stomach for prolong period of time.
