Abstract

Delayed release microparticles of flurbiprofen were formulated using an enteric polymer, cellulose acetate phthalate. The effects of various other modern enteric polymers such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate, Eudragit L-100 and Eudragit S - 100 on the release of flurbiprofen from the CAP microparticles have been evaluated. In vitro release profile of flurbiprofen from microparticles showed delayed release property and concentration-dependent release. A plot of (1-M1/M)1/3 versus time showed linear relationship, which indicated that the drug release occurs by erosion. The study was designed in the form of a factorial design in which the effects of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate, Eudragit L-100 and Eudragit S-100 on the release rate of CAP based delayed release microparticles were calculated by using two way analysis of variance test. The results revealed that the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate exhibits positive influence whereas Eudragit L 1-and Eudragit S-100 exhibit negative effect on the drug release rate of CAP microparticles. An I.R. spectral study proved that the integrity of the drug remained unaffected in the formulation.