FORMULATION AND CHARECTERIZATION OF ETHYLCELLULOSE MICROSPHERES OF AN ANTI VIRAL DRUG

M. Sreelatha*, R. Swapna, B. Vishnu Vardhanbabu, SK. Saira Banoo, Y. L. Swarupa, P. Anjaneyulu, P. Rajesh

ABSTRACT

Acyclovir (ACV), a synthetic analogue of 2’-deoxiguanosine, is one of the most effective and selective agents against viruses of the herpes group. Acyclovir microspheres were prepared by multiple emulsion solvent evaporation method, where DCM is used as a solvent for polymer ethylcellulose. PVA (emulsifying agent) is added to external aqueous phase, total of 8 batches are prepared by and evaluated for various parameters. Drug-excipients compatibility was performed by FTIR study. The average particle size of acyclovir loaded microspheres was found in range of 7.75-16.84 μm. Entrapment efficiency of drug loaded microspheres was found in range of 54.68-83.04%. The SEM of acyclovir loaded microspheres showed that the microspheres to be porous and spherical in shape, and also confirm the size of microspheres. Compatibility studies showed that acyclovir was compatible with ethylcellulose. The FTIR spectrum of physical mixture of drug and ethylcellulose, and drug loaded microspheres showed summation of peaks of drug and ethylcellulose. The in vitro release of optimized batch (F5) of drug loaded microspheres was found to be 86.1%. Higher correlation coefficient was observed in the Higuchi plot, indicating that the drug release from ethylcellulose microspheres was diffusion controlled.

Keywords: Acyclovir, Microspheres, Ethyl cellulose.