Preparaton and evauation of tableted microspheres of ibuprofen encapsulated in beeswax

by (Swati Pravin), 1980- Shah

Ibuprofen was encapsulated with beeswax by the hydrophobic congealable disperse phase method. Incorporation of stearyl alcohol in the formulation decreased the average size of the microspheres and led to a modified drug release. The microspheres showed a log-normal particle size distribution and a high drug encapsulation efficiency of about 94%. The in vitro release of ibuprofen from the microspheres could be modified according to the size distribution of the microspheres. Higuchi spherical matrix dissolution kinetics was followed. The appropriate size fraction of the microspheres was blended with microcrystalline cellulose and each formulation was compressed at different pressures. The effect of the compression pressure on various tablet properties was determined. Tableted microspheres appeared deformed but intact on the scanning electron micrographs. Drug release from the tableted microspheres was slightly slower than that from uncompressed microspheres. Increasing compression pressure led to a small decrease in drug release rate from the tableted microspheres.