DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF MICROBALLOONS OF PIOGLITAZONE HYDROCHLORIDE USING EUDRAGIT S-100

Various approaches have been used to retain the dosage form in the stomach as a way of increasing the gastric residence time (GRT), including floatation systems; high-density systems; mucoadhesive systems; magnetic systems; unfoldable, extendible, or swellable systems; and superporous hydrogel systems. The aim of this study was to prepare and evaluate floating microspheres of Pioglitazone hydrochloride for the prolongation of gastric residence time. The microspheres were prepared by emulsion solvent diffusion-evaporation method using Eudragit S-100. A full factorial design was applied to optimize the formulation. Preliminary studies revealed that the concentration of polymer and stirring speed significantly affected the characteristics of floating microspheres. The optimum batch of microspheres exhibited some rough surfaces with good flow and packing properties, prolonged sustained drug release, remained buoyant for more than 10 hrs, high entrapment efficiency upto 89%w/w. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the hollow structure with particle size in the order of 270 µm. The studies revealed that decrease in particle size of the microspheres increase the drug release from the floating microspheres. The results of 3² full factorial design revealed that the Polymer: Drug (P: D) ratio (X1) and stirring speed (X2) significantly affected drug entrapment efficiency, percentage release after 8 h and particle size of microspheres.