Sodium Alginate/Starch Blends Loaded with Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride as a Floating Drug Delivery System - In Vitro Evaluation

In the present study, Floating Drug Delivery Beads (FDDS) were prepared with sodium alginate/ starch blend as a matrix, sodium hydrogen carbonate as a pore forming agent, methyl cellulose as a binder and barium chloride solution as a hardening agent. In order to prepare the beads with different porosity and morphology the ratio between pore forming agent to polymer blend and ratio of the constituents of the blend were varied. Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride was used as a model drug for in-vitro studies. The swelling property of the dry beads is found to be in the range of 80% to 125% from its original dimension. The amount of drug released from the beads was measured by UV-Visible spectrometer at λmax of 278. The drug release from the floating beads can be varied from 7% to 67% by varying the ratios of composition of the blend and pore forming agents to the polymer blend.  From the results it is proved that this system can be used as an oral delivery system with an ability of controlled release of drug in a sustained manner.