DILTIAZEM HCL MICROCAPSULES USING ETHYL CELLULOSE ETHER DERIVATIVE POLYMER AS RELEASE RETARDING AGENT: IN-VITRO CHAPTER

This study presents sustained releasemicroencapsulation of Diltiazem HCL. Its in-vitro dissolution study in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 as dissolution medium and in vivo behaviour in animal subjects. The microcapsules were prepared using polymers Ethocel 7P and Ethocel 7FP at two different drug to polymer (D: P) ratios i.e. 1:5 and 1:10 and the effect of concentration was observed on drug release behaviour. The prepared microcapsules were evaluated for different physical characteristics i.e. Bulk density, Tap density, Compressibility index, Hausner’s ratio and Angle of repose. Characterization of the developed microcapsules was carried out using Differential Scanning Calorimetery and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy while Scanning Electron Microscopy was performed to observe the morphology of the microcapsules. Model dependent and in dependent approaches were used to find out the drug transport mechanism and to compare the drug release profiles with standard formulation respectively. All the formulations show anomalous, non-Fickian diffusion mechanism and the data was best fitted in Korsmeyer’sPeppas equation. While carrying out in vivo studies, simple and rapid HPLC methods were developed which revealed optimum serum concentration (Cmax) levels for the developed microcapsules predicting least chances of side or adverse effects.