Formulation And In Vitro Evaluation Of Gastroretentive Ranitidine Floating Microsponges

Ranitidine hydrochloride (BCS class III) is mainly used for the treatment of gastric ulcer and esophagititis, but its low bioavailability leads to shorter half-life. The aim of this research work is to formulate ranitidine floating micro sponges to improve the gastric residence time and sustained release action. Ranitidine floating micro sponges were prepared by quasi emulsion solvent diffusion method using the polymers ethyl cellulose, eudragit S and eudragit RS and their combination to produce six formulations (F1 – F6). FTIR reports confirmed the absence of incompatibilities between the drug and excipients. This formulation was evaluated for micromeritic properties, particle size, encapsulation efficiency, percent buoyancy and percentage cumulative drug release. The formulation F6 containing the combination of ethyl cellulose and eudragit RS was found to be the best formulation showing 86 ± 1.7% buoyancy, 62.58±0.71 % encapsulation efficiency and % cumulative drug release of 94.50±0.07% after 8 hrs. The kinetic data analysis showed that it follows zero order model by non fickian release mechanism. Therefore, this ranitidine floating micro sponges provides a promising novel approach for the treatment of gastric ulcer.