FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF SUSTAIN RELEASE FLOATING BEADS OF ANTI HYPERTENSIVE DRUG RAMIPRIL

\ Abstract: A single unit oral floating drug delivery system of Ramipril was developed to prolong gastric residence time, to decrease the dose of drug and increase drug bioavaibility. Drug and polymer compatibility was studied by subjecting physical mixtures of drug and polymers to FTIR. Sodium alginate beads containing Ramipril, capable of floating in gastric environment were formulated and evaluated. The beads were prepared by Ionotropic gelation method utilizing calcium carbonate as a gas forming agent. As gas-forming agents increased, the size and floating properties increased. The different concentrations of sodium alginate were used and their Morphological analysis, Buoyancy, Encapsulation efficiency and In vitro drug release behaviour in simulated gastric fluid were carried out. Percentage yield of all formulation was found approximate 80%. The enhanced buoyancy and sustained release properties of CaCO3- containing beads make them an excellent candidate for floating drug dosage systems.