FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF MUCOADHESIVE MICRO-SPHERES OF SALBUTAMOL SULPHATE BY USING A NATURAL POLYMER

Salbutamol  sulphate (SS)  loaded  microspheres  were  prepared   by  solvent  evaporation  method  with  combination   of  Sterculia  foetida  gum  in  various  proportions.  A total  of  eighteen  formulations  were  prepared  in  different  oil  phases  i.e.,  liquid  paraffin  and  sunflower  oil. Those  prepared  from  liquid  paraffin L1-L9 and  those  prepared  from  sunflower  oil  were  S1-S9.  Based on  the  particle size, entrapment  efficiency, drug  content,% yield, swelling  index, % moisture  loss, micromeritic properties batches  prepared  from  sunflower  oil showed better results as compared to those microspheres prepared from liquid paraffin. Thus, sunflower oil batches were optimized for further evaluation parameters. From further parameters four formulations were selected i.e., S2, S6, S8, S9. It  was  confirmed  with  the  results  of  micromeritic  property  that  all  the  selected  formulations   showed  good  flow  property.  Release  data  were  analyzed  based  on  best  fitting models  and  all  the  optimized batches  showed  good  fit  to  first  order,  Higuchi kinetics and  Korsemeyer-Peppas. Stability studies showed almost  negligible  changes  in  particle  size,  drug  content and  drug  release  throughout  the  study  period.