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Abstract

The objective of this study was to prepare, characterize and evaluate mucoadhesive microspheres of acyclovir employing sodium alginate as coat along with synthetic/natural mucoadhesive polymers. The orifice ionic gelation method was adapted for preparation mucoadhesive microspheres of acyclovir. The six sets AF 1-3, AF 4-6, were prepared using sodium alginate as coating polymer and carbopol 934, chitosan, urad dal, fenugreek and Lady’s finger as mucoadhesive polymer. The formulations AF-10, 14, 18 were prepared using combination of chitosan and urad dal, fenugreek and Lady’s finger. The prepared microspheres were evaluated for particle size, particle shape, SEM, FTIR study, encapsulation efficiency, swelling ratio, in vitro wash off test and in vitro drug release. The release rates were studied by using dissolution software PCPDissoV3. Mucoadhesive microspheres were found to be spherical, discrete, free flowing. The microspheres appear with rough surface and encapsulation efficiency found to be in range of 95.21% to 99.12%. All the microspheres showed good mucoadhesive property and swelling index. The drug release was found to be in range of 70.89% to 97.95% over the period of 12 hours. In vitro release reveals drug follows Higuchi matrix and Peppas equation with n value less than 0.5 indicating release mechanisms to be Fickian diffusion.

Keywords

Mucoadhesive microspheres, acyclovir, sodium alginate, urad dal, fenugreek, lady’s finger.

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