FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF FLOATING BEADS OF OFLOXACIN USING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Floating Drug delivery systems are designed to prolong the gastric residence time after oral administration. Ofloxacin is an antibacterial fluoroquinolone, widely prescribed in gastric and duodenal ulcers. It exhibits pH dependent solubility, more soluble in acidic pH and slightly soluble in neutral or alkaline pH. Precipitation of the drug occurs in the intestine, which adversely affects the absorption in the lower sections of the intestine. So there is a need for systems that reside in the stomach over a relatively long period and release the active compound in a sustained manner. The aim of the present study was to develop a delivery system wherein the retention of Ofloxacin could be achieved for increasing local action in the gastric region against Helicobacter pylori, with the development of rice bran oil entrapped zinc pectinate beads containing Ofloxacin. Various formulations of floating beads of Ofloxacin were developed using polymers like Low Methoxy Pectin alone and in combination with rate controlling polymers such as Gellan Gum, Karaya Gum and Xanthan Gum. The beads were prepared by emulsion gelation method. Rice bran oil was used to impart buoyancy to the beads due to its low density. The beads were spherical in nature and beads formulated with a mixture of Low Methoxy Pectin and Gellan Gum showed the highest drug content and drug entrapment. The buoyancy studies on the beads proved that a minimum of 25% w/w of rice bran oil was required to impart satisfactory buoyancy to the beads.