The purpose of this investigation was to prepare and evaluate colon specific microparticles of dicyclomine hydrochloride for the treatment of bowel syndrome. Sodium alginate microspheres were prepared by ionotropic gelation method using 23 factorial designs. Ethyl cellulose coating of dicyclomine hydrochloride sodium alginate microspheres was performed by coacervation phase separation technique. The microspheres were characterized by shape, particle size, size distribution, drug content, entrapment efficiency, in-vitro drug release studies and stability studies. 2x3 factorial designs were applied by using QI MACROS 2022 to study effect and interaction on the response of %EE and %CDR and for the optimization process were performed by using DESIGN EXPERT-13 software. The outer surfaces of the core and coated microspheres, which were spherical in shape, were rough and smooth, respectively. FTIR study confirmed the compatibility of drug and polymer in physical mixture and coated formulation. The size of the core microspheres ranged from 274-705 μm and the size of the coated microspheres ranged from 624-960μm. The core microspheres sustained the release 80% of drug release at about 12 hrs at pH 7.4 dissolution medium. The release studies of coated microspheres were performed in a pH progression medium mimicking the condition of GIT. The results revealed the absence of drug release for the 2 hrs in pH 1.2 followed by 2-4 hrs (2 hrs) and 4-6 hrs (2hrs) in pH 5.5 and 6.8 respectively, however, the drug was released quickly after 6 hrs at pH 7.4 and their release was sustained over a period of 6 – 20 hrs (14 hrs). The thickness of coating influences the release pattern due to more time to dissolve at pH 7.4 It is concluded from the present investigation that Ethyl cellulose-coated sodium alginate microspheres are promising controlled release carriers for colon targeted delivery of dicyclomine hydrochloride.
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