DESIGN AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FLOATING MICROPARTICLES OF A CYCLOOXYGENASE INHIBITOR FOR ARTHRITIS RELATED DISORDERS

Abstract

Floating drug  delivery  system  is  one  of  the  novel  drug  delivery  system. Floating drug delivery system such as microspheres have a bulk density less than gastric fluids and thus it remains buoyant in the stomach and thus it remains buoyant on stomach content for long time in the drug releasing process. Hence it is useful for obtaining sufficient bioavailability for long time and effective plasma level. Microspheres provide a constant & prolonged therapeutic effect which will reduce dosing frequency. Ketoprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with well established analgesic and antiarthritic effect by inhibiting the prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis. It is widely used for the treatment of arthritis related disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing  spondylitis. But it requires frequent administration to maintain the plasma drug concentration as the half life of the drug is less and when administered orally. The short half-life and the low single administration dose make ketoprofen a very good candidate for the formulation  of  controlled  release dosage  forms such as microspheres. It was  also reported  that  microspheres  of  nonsteroidal  anti-inflammatory  drug,  reduce gastrointestinal  tract  irritation.

Keywords: Floating drug delivery system, microspheres, Ketoprofen, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing  spondylitis