FORMULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FLOATING SODIUM ALGINATE BEADS OF AMOXICILLIN FOR PROLONGED GASTRIC RETENTION

Abstract

Sodium alginate (SA) floating beads containing amoxicillin were prepared by dripping method using calcium carbonate as gas generating agent. Hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) was used in all the four formulations (A1, A2, A3 and A4) as swelling agent to control the release of the drug. Gas generating agent forms pores on the surface of the bead because of the rapid escape of CO2 during the curing process in precipitating media. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed their porous and grossly spherical structure and size of the beads in the range of 800  1000$\mu$m. The drug entrapment efficiency was found to be 72.97  91.60%. A1 showed maximum drug entrapment efficiency and A4 showed least entrapment efficiency. The percentage porosity of beads was 78.99  96.03%. The porosity depends on the concentration of gas forming agent. The mechanical strength of the beads was 391  729 gm. All the formulations showed good floating time. The in- vitro release study was performed according to USP for 12 h. The cumulative percentage drug release was found to be 70.81   88.48%. The In-vitro dissolution study reveals that the concentration of gas generating agent affects the release rate.