Preparation of Double Coated Multiparticulate Delivery System for an Anti-Ulcerative Drug

In the long-term management of patients suffering from peptic ulcer and Zollinger Ellison Syndrome, hig and repeat dosing may be required. Here an antiulcerative drug, Rabeprazole sodium was selected for research work. Since it is largely absorbed from the upper intestine, selective delivery of drugs into the colon may be regarded as a better method of drug deliver with fewer side effects and a higher efficacy. The aim of this study was to prepare and evaluate a double coated multiparticulate system for Rabeprazole delivery using ethyl cellulose and mucoadhesive polymers as the primary and secondary polymer respectively and studied. Ethyl cellulose microparticles containing Rabeprazole was produced using the solvent evaporation method. Prepared ethyl cellulose microparticle were spherical, free flowing, nonaggregated and showed no degradation in the acidic medium. Entrapment efficacy of microparticles was about 68.5%. Results showed that drug release was fast and complete and is affected by the amount of core material entrapped. Ethylcellulose microparticles were then coated by various mucoadhesive polymers using emulsion solvent evaporation (ESE) technique. Here, two mucoadhesive polymers (HPMC and PVP) have been selected for the study. The idea for this approach was to prepare a mucoadhesive controlled drug delivery system, in which, ethyl cellulose gives a controlled release of the drug and the mucoadhesive property of the coating polymer helps in complete drug release by its localization (ulcer sites) as well as systemic action (in colon) resulting in more bioavailability, less degradation of drug and relief from the adverse effects of the drug. It was shown that this system could provide a suitable drug release pattern for delivery of active agents.