Title:Comparative Evaluation of Cefixime Microspheres Utilizing a Natural Polymer and a Synthetic Polymer
Volume: 20
Issue: 2
Author(s): Deepshi Arora, Yugam Taneja, Anjali Sharma, Prerna Sharma*, Jatin, Kumar Guarve, Nidhi Rani*Inderjeet Verma
Affiliation:
- Guru Gobind Singh College of Pharmacy, Yamunanagar, India
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
Keywords:
Cefixime, microspheres, natural, synthetic, sustained, drug delivery.
Abstract:
Background: Microspheres are naturally biodegradable, free-flowing powders with a particle
size of less than 200 micrometres that are comprised of proteins or synthetic polymers. Using
microspheres is a reliable strategy to ensure that the drug is accurately delivered to the target area and
that the right concentration is kept there without having any unfavourable side effects.
Objectives: The objective of the present study was to create a sustained-release cefixime trihydrate
microsphere delivery system employing natural and synthetic polymers as a carrier and increase therapeutic
effectiveness.
Methods: Due to the simplicity of processing, the solvent injection method was used to create microspheres.
Microspheres were created with this technology using the sustained-release polymer, sodium
alginate, and active material (drug). The compatibility of components with the drug was evaluated
using XRD and FT-IR. In an in-vitro release research, the dissolving medium was phosphate buffer
at pH 6.8. For the kinetic analysis of the drug release mechanism, graphs for zero-order, first-order,
Higuchi's, Korsmeyer-Peppas, and Hixson-Crowell models were also created.
Results: The best formulation was chosen from the batches, and in-vitro cefixime trihydrate release
studies for various microspheres containing cefixime trihydrate in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) for 8
hours were performed. The dissolution profiles of formulations F4 and F8 showed that the formulation,
including xanthan gum, F8, released 55.01% more medication in 8 hours than the formulation
using HPMC, F4. X-ray diffraction, swelling index of drug-laden microspheres, and Scanning Electron
Microscopy were used to evaluate formulation F8. The graphs for zero-order, first-order, Higuchi's,
Korsmeyer-Peppas, and Hixson- Crowell models were plotted, and the optimised batch was
discovered to match Higuchi's drug release kinetics with an R2 value of 0.990.
Conclusion: Cefixime trihydrate microspheres can be utilized as a new drug delivery technology to
minimize dose frequency and, as a result, to promote patient compliance.
