MICROPARTICULATE ORAL DRUG DELIVERY OF RIFAMPICIN FOR TUBERCULOSIS TREATMENT USING 3 2 FULL FACTORIAL DESIGN

Abstract

The present work deals with formulation of the ethyl cellulose microparticles of rifampicin in order to improve rifampicin stability by avoiding its direct contact with acidic environmental of stomach. The microparticles were developed as sustained delivery carriers for rifampicin in order to improve patient compliance in tuberculosis treatment in terms of reducing the dosing frequency. The formulation of rifampicin microparticles was prepared by solvent evaporation method using ethyl cellulose as wall material. Rifampicin is a major component in fixed dose combination therapy for the treatment of tuberculosis. Rifampicin has variable bioavailability due to its poor poor solubility, acid decomposition and food interaction. The various formulation variables which effect the physical characteristic and microsphere stability were investigated. Microparticles were found to be small, free flowing, discrete and irregular shaped. The drug loaded microparticles were evaluated for in-vitro drug released profiles. These drug loaded micro particles exhibited sustained released for 24 hrs in physiological media (pH 7.4 Phosphate buffer solutions without enzymes). The in-vitro release profile of drug loaded microparticles was 90.6 percent after 24 hrs, where as pure drug sample exhibited 87 percent of release within 3 hrs.