DOI: 10.21276/sajp.2016.5.8.1

Pages: 309-316

The study investigated the production of microencapsulated gliclazide by the emulsion-solvent evaporation method. Microspheres were prepared using combination of polymers Eudragit®RS PO and ethyl cellulose by solvent evaporation method and characterized for different properties. Compatibility studies were performed by differential scanning calorimetry, fourier trans form infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The resulting microspheres were white free flowing in nature. The particle size of microspheres ranged from 162-497µm and the encapsulation efficiencies ranged from 51.61-99.61%. The encapsulation efficiency was found to be dependent on nature of polymer used in the formulation. The infrared spectra confirmed the stable character of gliclazide in the drugloaded microspheres. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the microspheres were spherical in nature. From the in vitro drug dissolution studies showed that the sustaining effect of microspheres depended on the polymer concentration, amount of dispersant and the type of polymer used in the formulation. The mechanism of drug release from the microspheres was non-fickian type. Results suggest that combination of polymers containing gliclazide microspheres could be prepared successfully by using an emulsion solvent evaporation technique using polymethacylate polymers, which will not only sustain the drug release but also manage the complicacy of the diabetes in better manner