Design and evaluation of soluble ocular drug insert for controlled release of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride

Soluble ocular inserts of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride were prepared with the aim of achieving once a day administration.

Drug reservoir was prepared using natural hydrophilic polymer viz. gelatin while rate-controlling membrane was prepared using hydrophobic ethyl cellulose. Ocular inserts were evaluated for their physicochemical parameters like thickness, weight uniformity, drug content, percent moisture loss, and percent moisture absorption. The in vitro drug release studies were carried out using Bi-chambered donor receiver compartment model. Since targeted prolong release was observed in formulation CF2 and CF5, these formulations were further subjected to in vivo drug release study using rabbits as an animal model. In vitro drug release kinetic data was treated according to Zero, First, and Higuchi kinetics to access the mechanism of drug release.

Correlation between in vitro and in vivo drug release was found to be strong revealing the efficacy of the formulation.

Formulation CF5 has achieved target of present study such as increase residence time, prolong drug release, reduction in frequency of administration, and, thus may improve the patient compliance.