Acta Pharm. 62 (2012) 237-250

 

full paper

Short communication

 

Low molecular mass chitosan as carrier for a hydrodynamically balanced system for sustained delivery of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride

ANURAG VERMA, ASHOK K BANSAL, AMITAVA GHOSH and JAYANTA K. PANDIT

anuragverma_iftm@yahoo.co.in

1 Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, IFTM, Moradabad-244001, India

2 Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

Accepted April 3, 2012

 

Chitosan has become a focus of major interest in recent years due to its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability and non-toxicity. Although this material has already been extensively investigated in the design of different types of drug delivery systems, it is still little explored for stomach specific drug delivery systems. The objective of the present investigation was to explore the potential of low molecular mass chitosan (LMCH) as carrier for a hydrodynamically balanced system (HBS) for sustained delivery of water soluble drug ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CP). Various formulations were prepared by physical blending of drug and polymer(s) in varying ratios followed by encapsulation into hard gelatin capsules. All the formulations remained buoyant in 0.1mol L-1 HCl (pH 1.2) throughout the experiment. Effect of addition of xanthan gum (XG) or ethyl cellulose (EC) on drug release was also investigated. Zero order drug release was obtained from the formulations containing LMCH alone or in combination with XG, and in one instance also with EC. Our results suggest that LMCH alone or in combination with XG is an excellent material for stomach specific sustained delivery of CP from hydrodynamically balanced single unit capsules.

 

Keywords: low molecular mass chitosan, xanthan gum, ciprofloxacin, hydrodynamically balanced capsules, stomach specific release