FORMULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION SUSTAINED RELEASE FLOATING MICROSPHERES OF PROPAFENONE
Sharda Goupale, Sandesh Asati, Vishnu Raj
ABSTRACT
The present study was aimed at the formulation and evaluation of sustained release floating microspheres of Propafenone hydrochloride to improve its gastric residence time and oral bioavailability. Microspheres were prepared using different polymers such as HPMC, ethyl cellulose, and guar gum by solvent evaporation technique. The prepared microspheres were characterized for percentage yield, drug entrapment efficiency, buoyancy, floating lag time, particle size, zeta potential, and surface morphology. Among the formulations, batch F5 exhibited the highest percentage yield (82.25 ± 0.65%), drug entrapment efficiency (79.15 ± 0.44%), and excellent buoyancy (80.36 ± 0.33%) with a short floating lag time (53 ± 9 s). SEM analysis confirmed spherical shape with smooth surface, while particle size and zeta potential values indicated good stability. The in-vitro drug release profile of optimized formulation F5 demonstrated sustained release of 98.85% over 12 h compared to rapid release from marketed tablets. Kinetic modeling revealed that the drug release followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas model (R² = 0.9915), suggesting a non-Fickian diffusion-controlled mechanism. Thus, Propafenone hydrochloride floating microspheres represent a promising gastroretentive delivery system for sustained therapeutic effect and enhanced bioavailability.
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