PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FLOATING ALGINATE BEADS OF LAFUTIDINE AS A GASTRORETENTIVE DOSAGE FORM

Background: Lafutidine floating beads as a gastro-retentive dosage form antagonisms of histamine H2 receptor. It is used as anti-ulcerative agent. It is effective against the oesophageal lesions induced by acid reflux through inhibition of acid secretions. Objectives: The objective of the present work was to formulate and evaluate the floating beads of Lafutidine as a model drug. The objective of this study is to develop a simple uncomplicated and easy to manufacture floating beads that are capable of delivering lafutidine at a prolonged release rate of delivery. It has a short half-life (3 h). It has a low bioavailability (60-80%). The frequent dosing, which results in unacceptable patient compliance. Methods: Lafutidine was received as a gift sample and a thorough pre-formulation study was performed on a given sample in order to estimate the physicochemical properties like solubility, melting point, partition coefficient to confirm the authenticity of sample and to confirm that there are no significant barriers to the development of dosage forms. 12 different formulation of lafutidine floating alginate beads were successfully developed using the emulsion solvent diffusion method. The beads had good yield and showed high, drug entrapment efficiency. The flow properties of microspheres were within the acceptable range and therefore would be easily filled into capsules. Release properties were satisfactory and the formulations hold promise for further development into drug delivery systems for oral administration of lafutidine. Results and Discussions: FT-IR spectra of the physical mixture showed no significant shifting of the peaks, so ingredients used in the study are suitable for the development of lafutidine floating beads formulations. The minimum cumulative percent drug release after 7 h of the Lafutidine floating beads 23.244 ± 0.82% was shown by batch AB3 and the maximum release 72.41 ± 0.09% was shown by the floating beads of batch AB4.