Influence of drug: polymer ratio in entrapment of salicylic acid into microsponge

• Main Authors: Ab. Hadi, Hazrina, Azillah, Namira
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: RS Pharmacy and materia medica
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/51731/2/ICIP_SA.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/51731/3/51731_Influence_of_Drug.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/51731/; http://www.iium.edu.my/icip2016/index.php/2-intro/1-icip2016

Entrapment of salicylic acid in the microsponge will enhance the efficacy and reduce the side effects of salicylic acid by its sustained release characteristic. The main purpose of this study was to formulate and evaluate the optimum formulation of microsponge delivery system containing salicylic acid. Ethyl cellulose based microsponge was prepared by using quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method. In this study, the optimization of the microsponge was conducted by manipulating the drug: polymer ratio. Among some of the most important parameters that were observed in this study were the production yield, entrapment efficiency and mean particle size of microsponge. Microsponge salicylic acid was later incorporated into the gel formulation. Increasing the drug: polymer ratio resulted in an increase in the production yield of microsponge. On contrary, the entrapment efficiency of the microsponge reduced with the increment of drug: polymer ratio of the microsponge. The size of the particles obtained was in the range of 12 – 16 µm. Apart from that, The pH of the gel containing microsponge salicylic acid is within the range of 4 – 6 which is an ideal pH for topical formulation with good homogeneity and consistency. Stability study of the microsponge gel was conducted for 28 days at room temperature and no changes were seen in their physical appearance and pH. In short, the drug: polymer ratio plays an important role in developing the microsponge with excellent characterization to ensure its effectiveness in delivering active compounds.