Design of chitosan microspheres containing diclofenac sodium.

Abstract

Micropheres of Diclofenac Sodium were prepared by coacervation phase separation method. Chitosan and glutaraldehyde were used as coating material and cross-linking agent respectively. Optimum conditions for preparation, factors affecting the in-vitro release from hard gelatin capsules in phosphate buffer (pH 6.5) and mechanism of drug release are identified. The in-vivo bioavailability testing was carried out in rabbits and the results were compared with that of solution of diclofenac sodium. The data demonstrates tht controlled release forulation of diclofenac sodium can be developed using chitosan as a biopolymer. The microspheres exhibited good spherical geometry and released the drug according to the Higuchi model.