FORMULATION AND IN VIVO STUDIES OF IBUPROFEN BIODEGRADABLE IMPLANTS

Isesele Ejededawe Jude, Airemwen Collins Ovenseri*, Uchendu Phina Adaeze, Asemwota Iwinosa Osamudiamen, Johnbull Aiwaguore Obarisiagbon and Uhumwangho MU

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to formulate ibuprofen loaded implants using some biodegradable polymers and to evaluate the analgesic effect in vivo using mice. Solvent casting technique was employed for the formulation of ibuprofen loaded implant pellets using gelatin-sodium alginate admixture (80:20) as the polymer blend. Glycerin was used as the plasticizing agent. The cut pellets were evaluated for their physicochemical properties such as weight uniformity, thickness, swelling index, moisture content, moisture sorption, drug content, drug-excipient interactions as well as in vitro drug release. The in vivo analgesic activity of the implants on acetic acid-induced mouse writhing in mice was also determined. The implant pellets had uniform character with minimum batch to batch variation. The mean diameter/thickness of the implants ranged from 2.91 ± 0.02 - 3.05 ± 0.01 mm, mean weight variation was 123 ± 0.1 to 128 ± 0.1 mg, mean percentage drug content was between 96.75 ± 0.11- 98.25±0.12%, mean percentage moisture content ranged from 26.12 ± 0.03 – 31.50 ± 0.01% and swelling index values were between 4.50 ± 0.01 - 5.24 ± 0.02%. In vivo analgesic activity of the ibuprofen implants significantly inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing in mice as compared to the control. Ibuprofen biodegradable implants which can be used in the management of chronic disease such as arthritis was successfully formulated using the solvent casting technique.

Keywords: Ibuprofen, implants, biodegradable, sodium alginate.