Spray-Dried Floating Microparticles of Ranitidine HCl by Factorial Design for Oral Delivery

In the present study, gastro retentive microparticulate systems of ranitidine HCl were prepared by spray drying. Biocompatible polymers like Eudragit RS100, Eudragit RL100 were used in the formulation. Factorial design (2) was employed by taking drug to polymer ratio and polymer to polymer ratio as factors. FTIR and DSC studies showed that Ranitidine HCl and excipients are compatible. Scanning electron microscopic studies shows spherical particles in the size range of 150 to 320 μm. Ranitidine HCl microparticles showed excellent buoyancies and release pattern upto 12 h in a controlled manner. The n value of Korsmeyer Peppas equation for the optimized formulation was found to be 0.366 which indicates the Fickian diffusion mechanism. Encapsulation efficiency was achieved up to 83.67%. The predicted values of drug release of optimized formulation at 1 h, 8 h, 12 h and entrapment efficiency were 9.88%, 72.99%, 89.86%, and 83.67% and actual values were 9.73%, 71.95%, 88.89% and 82.79% respectively. XRD studies indicate that the crystallinity of the drug is reduced in the microparticles. Photostability studies indicate that the polymer coat on microparticles protect the drug from light. The data obtained, thus suggests that a microparticulate, novel drug delivery system can be successfully designed to give oral controlled drug delivery with many desirable characteristics.