PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF PIROXICAM MICROSPHERES

Esmat E.Zein*, Sanaa El-Gizawy and Sania El-kayad

ABSTRACT

Non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used particularly in elderly patients for both rheumatic as well as non-rheumatic conditions. Elderly patients are more prone to the adverse effects of these drugs. Adverse effects are seen in almost every organ system, but GI tract is most frequently affected as they cause GI irritation, bleeding and also peptic as well as duodenal ulceration. Piroxicam is one of these drugs which are commonly used for treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis which need long term treatment. In order to reduce the GI side effects of piroxicam, microspheres of the drug were prepared with different polymers of time dependant eudragit polymers. Different techniques of microencapsulation were experienced to prepare controlled release formulations of .piroxicam. Solvent evaporation technique was the technique of choice for this purpose. The obtained microspheres were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as IR spectroscopy. The obtained results showed the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the drug and polymer. SEM indicated that microspheres have rough and porous surface due to solvent evaporation during preparation. Drug percent yield was measured and ranged from74.24% to 92.03% .Dissolution studies which were performed at pH 1.2, 6.8 and 7.4 (representing stomach and intestinal conditions respectively) showed that the drug release was continuous and faster at pH 7.4 and the cumulative drug release reached 89% within 8 hrs.

Keywords: Piroxicam, ankylosing, dependant eudragit.