FLOATING IN-SITU GELLING SYSTEM FOR STOMACH SPECIFIC ORAL DRUG DELIVERY OF VALACYCLOVIR

Abstract

The present investigation deals with the formulate and evaluate oral in situ floating drug delivery system for Valacyclovir which undergoes ion
dependent sol - gel transition at gastric physiological conditions, thereby prolonging the retention of the system in stomach. Sodium alginate as gelling
agent whose gelation is triggered by source of Calcium ions in the form of calcium carbonate. The study demonstrates the feasibility of prolonging
gastric residence time and release rate of Valacyclovir by preparing floating in situ gel system using ion- cross linking in situ gel forming polymers.
The formulated batches were further studied for Floating lag time, Gelling lag time, Viscosity and in vitro drug release was carried out. The prepared
floating oral in situ gel formulation was optimized using 32
full factorial experimental design. Floating oral in situ gel formulation optimized for amount
of sodium alginate(X1) and amount of calcium carbonate(X2) independent variables) in order to achieve desired response of floating lag time(Y1),
viscosity(Y2), %CDR at 1 hour(Y3) and %CDR at 8 hour(Y4)(dependent variables). The experimental results of optimized batch (F6) revealed that
floating lag time = 54 sec, viscosity = 218 cP, 39.83 %CDR = 1hour and 88.96 %CDR = 8 hour. The improved characteristics of the selected floating
oral in situ gel system make them excellent candidates for gastric retention.