Research Paper Preparation and Characterization of Gastroretentive Floating Microspheres of Ofloxacin Hydrochloride

As Ofloxacin is preferably absorbed from the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract and is readily soluble in the acidic environment of the stomach, the floating microspheres of ofloxacin were formulated to develop gastroretentive formulation. These floating microspheres release the drug in the stomach and upper gastrointestinal tract and thereby improve the bioavailability. In the present study, six formulations of ofloxacin hydrochloride were prepared as floating microspheres by solvent diffusion technique using polymers such as ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone K-90 and poly vinyl alcohol in different ratios. The prepared microspheres were evaluated for different physicochemical tests such as particle size, percent drug entrapment, drug content uniformity, SEM, buoyancy test, and in vitro drug release studies. The results of all the physicochemical tests of all formulations were found to be satisfactory. In vitro floatability studies revealed that most of the microspheres (52.5% to 95.5%) were floatable. The in vitro drug release was found to be in the range of 39.64 to 93.64 % at the end of 6 hours. It is concluded that these floating microspheres can be selected for the development of gastroretentive drug delivery system of ofloxacin hydrochloride for potential therapeutic uses.