Development of Novel Floating In-Situ Gelling System for Stomach Specific Drug Delivery System of the Narrow Absorption Window Drug Loratadine

Abstract

The present investigation deals with the formulation, optimization and evaluation of sodium alginate based in situ gel of Loratadine. Sodium alginate is used as polymer and calcium carbonate was used as a cross linking agent. In situ forming polymeric formulation drug delivery systems is in sol form before administration in the body, but once administered, undergoes gelation In-Situ to form a gel. The formulation of gel depends upon factors like temperature, pH, presence of ions and ultra-violet irradiation, from which drug gets released in sustained and controlled manner. The objective of this study to develop a novel In-Situ gel system for sustained drug delivery using natural polymer. The system utilizes polymers that exhibit sol-to-gel phase transition due to change in specific physico-chemical parameters. In-Situ gel was formed at a biological pH. In vitro release studies were conducted in simulated gastric fluid and cumulative amount of drug release was analyzed by spectrophotometry. From designed set of experiments, it was evident that formulation containing 1.5% of sodium alginate control the release of drug for longer duration. The In-Situ gel exhibited the expected viscosity, pH, drug content, in-vitro gelling capacity, in-vitro floating ability, water uptake ability and sustained drug release.