Formulation and Evaluation of Particulate Nasal Drug Delivery System for the Treatment of Migraine

Abstract

The intranasal delivery is preferable route for the administration of the drug for local systemic as well as central nervous system drug delivery.  Microparticulate drug delivery system provides numerous advantages like, increased surface area, modified release pattern, improved bioavailability etc. The aim of the present study is an attempt to formulate and evaluate microspheres drug delivery system of Zolmitriptan by using Ethyl Cellulose as polymer for the treatment of migraine. The Zolmitriptan microspheres were prepared by quasi emulsion solvent diffusion method using methanol and dichloromethane system. The formulation parameters and processing parameters like ratio of drug polymer (1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1:7), volume of water and stirring speed, time were optimized. The prepared microspheres were characterized for its drug content, percentage yield, compatibility study, powder characteristics, percent moisture content, in-vitro drug release, Ex-vivo mucoadhesion study. Based on In-vitro drug release the batch F4 is selected as optimized batch. Having drug: polymer ratio is 1:5 (Zolmitriptan 50 mg: ethyl cellulose 250mg). The in-vitro % drug release of batch F4 was 99.6.

Keywords: Zolmitriptan, mucoadhesion