Development and Evaluation of Ibuprofen Pellets Based on Sodium Alginate and Hydroxy Propyl Methyl Cellulose Blends

Pellets which are agglomerates of fine powders or granules of drugs with spherical or semi-spherical shape, generally aimed for oral use, range from about 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. The study was performed to microencapsulate Ibuprofen, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) through extrusion technique with the aid of sodium alginate and HPMC K100 LV in different proportions. After formulation physicochemical parameters like mean particle size, contraction ratio, surface morphology, moisture content, buoyancy test, swelling index, angle of repose, percent yield, drug entrapment efficiency and drug release potential of the formulated preparation were investigated. From results, it is clear that with the increasing sodium alginate concentration, mean particle size enhances and a poor size distribution in the range of 1.258 mm to 1.783 mm existed among the batches and similar characteristics also appeared for angle of repose and swelling index. In contrary, relationship between contraction ratio, percent yield, drug content, concentration on loose surface, and drug entrapment efficiency value with sodium alginate concentration is erratic rather than linear and formulated microspheres floated in the simulated gastric fluid, water, 0.9 % NaCl solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provides information about the surface morphology and drug distribution on the surface. The formulated pellets showed drug release in the range of 8.67 – 35.4 % mg/hr and release kinetics shows maximum resemblance with Higuchi model. Finally, through the overview of the physiochemical parameters performed on the current study sable Ibuprofen pellets could be synthesized.