Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Preparation and characterization of lamivudine microcapsules using various cellulose polymers

K . Prakash¹ , P N Raju¹, K K Shanta¹, M N Lakshmi²

¹Sri Indu Institute of Pharmacy , Sheriguda , Ibrahimpatnam , R.R. Dist - 501 510; ²Centre For Biotechnology, Institute of Science and Technology, JNTU, Kukatpally, Hyderabad..

For correspondence:- K Prakash Email: pkatakam9@rediffmail.com Tel:+91-9848574488

Published: 25 December 2007

Citation: Prakash K., Raju PN, Shanta KK, Lakshmi MN. Preparation and characterization of lamivudine microcapsules using various cellulose polymers. Trop J Pharm Res 2007; 6(4):841-847 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v6i4.7

© 2007 The authors.
This is an Open Access article that uses a funding model which does not charge readers or their institutions for access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative (http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited..

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to prepare and evaluate microcapsules for the controlled release of lamivudine using various cellulose polymers.

Methods: The microcapsules were prepared by the solvent evaporation method. The prepared microcapsules were characterized for the percent drug content, entrapment efficiency, FTIR, DSC, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and in vitro dissolution studies. Accelerated stability studies were also carried out.

Results: The microcapsules were spherical and free flowing. The entrapment efficiency was 76-86%. The release of drug from the microcapsules extended up to 8 to 12 hours. FTIR and DSC thermograms showed the stable character of lamivudine in the microcapsules. SEM revealed that the microcapsules were porous in nature. The release kinetics study revealed that the prepared microcapsules were best fitted to the zero order for F-2, F-4 and F-5 formulations and Higuchi model, for F-1 and F-3 microcepsules.

Conclusion: The release kinetics data and characteristion studies indicate that drug release from microcapsules was diffusion – controlled and that the micrapsules were stable.

Keywords: Lamivudine, cellulose polymers, microcapsules, controlled release, stability.