LUNG TARGETING OF OFLOXACIN THROUGH SIZE SPECIFIC CHITOSAN MICROSPHERES

Pulmonary drug delivery systems offer many advantages over other conventional drug delivery system such as avoidance of first pass metabolism, large surface area suitable for drug absorption and quicker onset of pharmacological activity. One of the drugs, ofloxacin, if formulated into microspheres, could by the mechanical interception of capillary bed, could effectively be targeted to the lungs. The biodegradable and biocompatible polymer chitosan was selected as matrix forming agent for the purpose of microencapsulation. The formulated nanoparticles were then evaluated for various parameters like for particle size, shape and entrapment efficiency etc. The microspheres were evaluated by DSC studies, IR spectroscopy and in vitro drug release study followed by in vivo lung targeting study. The microspheres could be successfully utilized for targeting ofloxacin to the lung tissue.