Preparation and evaluation of alginate microspheres of piroxicam for controlled release

Abstract

Piroxicam is a Non-steroidal anti-infl ammatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic drug which is widely used in muscle-skeletal disorder like osteoarthritis. Piroxicam had bad taste, half-life of 30 hrs and poor water solubility. Microspheres are multi-particulate drug delivery systems, spherical in shape and having a size range 50- 100 microns. Methods such as Coaservation, Emulsifi cation, Solvent evaporation and Ionic gelation methods are employed for preparing Microspheres.The present study is aimed at formulation of alginate microspheres with piroxicam by ionic gelation method. Obtained microspheres were characterized for particle size, drug content and invitro drug release. The prepared microspheres were found to be spherical, discrete and free fl owing. The average size of microspheres prepared was found to be 950 m. Among 2 formulations, batch A microspheres releases piroxicam slowly and spread over a period of 22 hrs, release was by Non-Fickian diffusion mechanism as the ‘n’ value was 0.65.