FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF IN SITU GEL OF MOXIFLOXACIN HCL AND KETOROLAC TROMETHAMINE
Chandan Kumar, Nitendra Kumar Sahu
ABSTRACT
The present study was aimed at the formulation and evaluation of an ophthalmic in situ gel containing Moxifloxacin hydrochloride and Ketorolac tromethamine for prolonged ocular residence time and sustained drug release. Conventional ophthalmic formulations suffer from poor bioavailability due to rapid precorneal elimination and frequent tear turnover, resulting in reduced therapeutic efficacy and frequent dosing. In situ gel systems were therefore developed to overcome these limitations and enhance ocular drug retention. The formulations were prepared using Carbopol® 940/934 in combination with HPMC E4M by the dispersion method. A total of ten formulations (F1–F10) were developed and evaluated for appearance, pH, drug content, viscosity, gelling capacity, and in vitro drug release. All formulations were found to be clear, transparent, and free from particulate matter with pH values ranging from 6.9 to 7.2, indicating suitability for ophthalmic administration. Drug content was found within acceptable limits, ranging from 95.0% to 99.2%. Viscosity studies revealed that the formulations exhibited suitable rheological behavior for ocular application, with viscosity increasing as polymer concentration increased. Gelling capacity studies demonstrated rapid sol-to-gel transition and prolonged gel integrity, confirming effective in situ gel formation. In vitro drug release studies showed sustained release of both drugs over a period of 8 hours. Among all formulations, F7 exhibited the most desirable characteristics with controlled drug release reaching 98.85% at the end of 8 hours. The study concluded that the developed in situ gel system could effectively prolong ocular retention, sustain drug release, improve therapeutic efficacy, and enhance patient compliance in the treatment of ocular infections and inflammation.
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