ABSTRACT:
The poor bioavailability and therapeutic response exhibited by conventional ophthalmic solutions due to rapid pre-corneal elimination of the drug may be overcome by the use of in situ gel forming systems that are instilled as drops into the eye and then undergo a sol-gel transition in the cul-de-sac. Moxifloxacin hydrochloride is a fluoroquinolone anti-infective agent useful in the treatment of eye infection such as conjunctivitis, keratitis and keratoconjuctivitis. The purpose of the present work was to develop an ophthalmic drug delivery system using the concept of ion-activated and pH activated in situ gelation for Moxifloxacin hydrochloride. Carbopol-934, which gels in the lachrymal fluid of pH 7.4 and Sodium alginate ion activated polymer were used as the gelling agent in combination with HPMC K4M (incorporated as viscosity enhancing agent). The promising formulations F1 to F4 were evaluated for pH, drug content, In vitro Gelation Studies, gelling capacity, in vitro drug release. Percentage drug content was ranging from 98.35% to 99.83%, viscosity of 14.321 cps to 23.486 cps at 20 rpm, was observed for all formulations respectively. In vitro release studies indicated that the Alginate/ HPMC K4M 934, Carbopol 934/HPMC K4M solutions retained the drug better than the alginate or Carbopol solutions alone. The formulations were therapeutically efficacious, and provided sustained release of drug over 8 hours. The developed system is thus a viable alternative to conventional eye drops.