Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Microencapsulation of Diclofenac Sodium by Non-solvent Addition Technique

G Murtaza¹, M Ahmad¹ , G Shahnaz²

¹Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Alternative Medicines, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan; ²Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Innsbruck, Austria.

For correspondence:- M Ahmad Email: gmdogar356@gmail.com Tel:+923009682258

Received: 26 July 2009 Accepted: 21 January 2010 Published: 15 April 2010

Citation: Murtaza G, Ahmad M, Shahnaz G. Microencapsulation of Diclofenac Sodium by Non-solvent Addition Technique. Trop J Pharm Res 2010; 9(2):187-195 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v9i2.11

© 2010 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To prepare, using non-solvent addition technique, diclofenac sodium-ethylcellulose microparticles with modified drug release properties.

Methods: Microparticles were prepared by non-solvent addition phase separation method and characterized by micromeritics, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), dissolution test and thermal analysis.

Results: The microparticles were whitish, irregular, aggregated, and in the size range of 390 - 442 µm size. Drug embedment efficiency was 89 - 91 %. Characterisation studies indicate that there was no strong chemical interaction between the drug and the polymer in the microparticles. Polymer concentration and sustained release behavior were directly proportional.

Conclusion: Non-solvent addition phase separation is a suitable method for preparing diclofenac sodium-ethylcellulose multi-unit controlled release drug delivery system.

Keywords: Phase separation, Diclofenac sodium, Ethylcellulose, Non-solvent addition, Characterisation