Formulation and Evaluation of Erythromycin Estolate Loaded Drug Balls

Abstract

The purpose of research work was to develop and optimize drug balls of erythromycin estolate for oral mucosal delivery of drug for fast delivery of drug and better bio-availability with the aim to treatment of whooping cough with also additional advantages over the traditional dosage forms such as suspension and tablets which takes too much time for release of drug but drug balls release mucoadhesive liquid which shows fast drug release, better bioavailability, avoid hepatic first pass effect and fast action. Sodium alginate based drug balls containing erythromycin estolate were prepared by specific method. Sodium alginate, ethyl cellulose were selected on the basis of formulation of drug balls, mucoadhesive force, In-vitro drug release. A 32 factorial design was employed for preparation of drug balls wherein the concentration of sodium alginate, concentration of ethyl cellulose were selected as independent variables while in vitro drug release and percentage permeation were the dependent variables. Drug balls were evaluated with respect to the percentage mucoadhesion, drug content, invitro drug release and permeation studies. F4 formulation was optimized with mucoadhesive force, %permeation efficiency and In-vitro drug release. Drug balls were characterized by FTIR and DSC study. Stability study revealed that the formulation was found to be stable.