PREPARATION AND IN VITRO EVALUATION OF CHLORPHENIRAMINE MALEATE LOADED MICROSPHERES

*E-mail: bhmaz@yahoo.co.in ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to prepare and characterize the microspheres of chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) with the combination of cellulose derivatives: ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate. Microspheres were prepared with the combination of ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate using oil-in-oil emulsion solvent evaporation method. Microspheres were characterized by particle size analysis, percentage yield, and entrapment efficiency, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, in vitro release studies and release kinetics. The mean particle size, percentage yield were decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with decrease in drug-polymer ratio, surfactant concentration, stirring speed and volume of continuous phase. SEM and FT-IR studies revealed that the microspheres were spherical; non-aggregated, and porous in nature and drug polymer is compatible. It was found that in vitro release were decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with decrease in drug-polymer ratio and stirring speed but increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increase in surfactant concentration and volume of continuous phase. The analysis of dissolution kinetic data shows that it follows Higuchi model then zero order followed by first order. The result suggests that the combination of cellulose acetate and ethyl cellulose microsphere may be useful for the delivery of chlorpheniramine maleate.