Abstract:
In the present study, a gastroretentive microparticulate system of Gabapentin capable of
floating on simulated gastric fluid for more than 12 hours was formulated by solvent
evaporation technique. Ethyl cellulose and Cellulose acetate a biocompatible polymer was
used to form microspheres of gabapentin by response surface methodology. The formulated
microspheres were characterized for their micromeritic properties, surface morphology by
SEM, drug-polymer compatibility studies by FTIR, in-vitro buoyancy studies, percentage
drug entrapment efficiency and in-vitro drug release studies. Optimization studies were
carried out by taking drug: polymer ratio and polymer: polymer in combination as
independent variables and percentage yield, percentage drug entrapment efficiency and
percentage buoyancy as responses using 3-level factorial design. The formulated
microspheres were free flowing indicated that the microspheres were porous and almost
spherical in shape. The prepared microspheres formulation had percentage drug entrapment
of 93% and buoyancy of 80% with floating time up to 12 hours. In-vitro drug release studies
of gabapentin microspheres showed a controlled release of 12 hours with ethyl cellulose and
cellulose acetate. The data obtained in this study thus suggested that a microparticulate
floating dosage form of gabapentin can be successfully designed to give controlled drug
delivery and improved oral bioavailability.
