Microspheres loaded with meloxicam were prepared by ionic gelation method without the use of chemical cross–linking agent, glutaraldehyde in order to avoid its toxic reactions and other undesirable effects. Ionotropic gelation was employed by using sodium-tripolyphosphate (Na-TPP) as cross-linking agent and chitosan as the polymer. All the prepared microspheres were subjected to various physico-chemical studies, such as drug-polymer compatibility by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), surface morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), particle size distribution, encapsulation efficiency and in-vitro drug release characteristics. The drug release rate decreased with an increase in the cross-linking density. DSC and XRD analysis indicated that the meloxicam trapped in the microspheres existed in an amorphous or disordered crystalline state in the polymer matrix. From the preliminary trials, it may be concluded that drug-loaded microspheres can be prepared by a simple technique which avoids the use of complex apparatus and special precautions.
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