Abstract:

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 microsponges to improve the gastric residence time and sustained release action. Ranitidine floating microsponges were prepared by quasi emulsion solvent diffusion method using the polymers ethylcellulose, eudragit S and eudragit RS and their combination to produce six formulations(F1 – F6). FTIR reports confirmed the absence of incompatabilities between the drug and excipients. This formulations were 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 effieciency 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 microsponges provides a promising novel approach for the treatment of gastric ulcer.