FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GELUCIRE BEADS OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUG FOR FLOATING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM USING 32 FACTORIAL DESIGNS
Objective: The aim of this study was to design and to optimize lipid based beads for multiunit floating drug delivery of ramipril. Methods: The beads prepared by melt-solidification method. In the investigation 32 full factorial design was used to investigate the joint influence of two formulation variable amount of Gelucire (X1) and Tween 20 (X2) as independent variable and the percentage drug release in 1 (Y1), 6 (Y2), and 12 h (Y3) as dependent variable. Gelucire 43/01 has chosen for release retardant and Tween 20 for solubility enhancement and drug loading agent. Results: The results of multiple linear regression analysis indicated that for obtain a floating drug delivery, the optimum concentrations of both the lipid and drug loading agent should be used. The factorial models were used to prepare optimized floating beads and optimized formulations showed controlled release profiles for the extended period of more than 12 h. Conclusion: From the study, it was concluded that beads of Gelucire for sparingly water-soluble drug ramipril can provide controlled release for extended period.