FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF COLON TARGETING MICROSPHERES CONTAINING SULFASALAZINE FOR IBD

The main objective of the work was to prepare and evaluate sulfasalazine loaded microspheres for sustained delivery for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Sulfasalazine has crystalluria, thrombocytopenia, and megaloblastic anemia as side effects, so to reduce side effect microspheres were prepared. The sulfasalazine microspheres were prepared by inotropic gelation method by optimizing process parameters such as concentration of calcium chloride, agitation speed, and time of agitation. The concentration of polymer sodium alginate was varied. Among the all formulations, the best formulation was considered by comparing process parameters such as the entrapment efficiency, drug content, in vitro drug release studies, scanning electron microscope analysis, and zeta potential. The prepared microspheres were stable, spherical particles and showed favorable release profiles in simulated colonic fluid. However, additional evaluation of these carriers can be performed for their probableto treat colonic diseases, as a future scope.

Key words:Sulfasalazine, Microspheres, Inflammatory bowel disease, Development, Characterization