In-vitro evaluation of sustained release ibuprofen microspheres

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Oral drug delivery systems aim to enhance therapeutic efficacy through targeted and sustained drug release.
• Microspheres are a key formulation for achieving controlled drug release profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop sustained-release ibuprofen microspheres using the melt dispersion technique.
• To investigate the influence of carnauba wax, Pluronic L-62 surfactant, and ibuprofen concentration on microsphere properties and drug release.
• To evaluate the in-vitro dissolution of ibuprofen from the prepared microspheres.

Main Methods:

• Melt dispersion technique utilizing carnauba wax as a carrier and Pluronic L-62 as a surfactant.
• Preparation of ibuprofen-loaded microspheres with varying ibuprofen and surfactant concentrations and stirring speeds.
• In-vitro dissolution testing in phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) over 6 hours.
• Morphological evaluation of microsphere surface characteristics.

Main Results:

• Microspheres formulated with 1.5 g ibuprofen released 58.1% over 6 hours, while those with 6.0 g ibuprofen released 38.9%.
• Higher ibuprofen loading in microspheres led to a reduced in-vitro release rate.
• Prepared microspheres exhibited spherical shapes with smooth surfaces.
• The melt dispersion technique proved effective for creating sustained-release ibuprofen microspheres.

Conclusions:

• The melt dispersion technique successfully produced sustained-release ibuprofen microspheres using carnauba wax.
• Drug loading significantly impacts the release kinetics, with higher concentrations yielding slower release.
• The developed microspheres demonstrate potential for oral sustained drug delivery applications.