FORMULATION CHARACTERIZATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF CEFIXIME TRI-HYDRATE HYDROGEL TABLET BY USING DESIGN EXPERT

The purpose of current research work has been made to formulate a gastro-retentive drug delivery system (GRDDS) of those drugs having a narrow absorption window or having good absorption at the proximal part of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) to deliver at stomach site and to improve the bioavailability of a drug. Gastro-retentive hydrogel tablet of Cefixime trihydrate was prepared by the direct compression method via using carbopol 940 and chitosan with different concentrations. Cefixime is a very poorly water-soluble drug after its oral administration so that it is slowly and incompletely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, which results within poor bioavailability i.e., 40-50%. Hydrogel was characterized concerning diverse parameters with mechanical strength, swelling ratio, in-vitro drug release, etc. The drug release from a combination of carbopol 940 and chitosan-based hydrogel showed for a prolonged period. A 3² full factorial design was utilized to optimize the tablet of cefixime trihydrate by selecting an amount of carbopol 940 and chitosan as independent variables and effects were observed on drug release and swelling index. Comparison study of antimicrobial activity of optimized batch and the marketed formulation was evaluated against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) by the zone of inhibition. The optimized batch gave desired results at 16 h as a time for 84.99% drug release and % swelling index, as 93% achieved. Stability studies demonstrated no change in physical appearance and an insignificant difference in drug release and swelling index.