Composition, formulation and in-vitro evaluation studies of cefixime microspheres

The aim of the study was to formulate and evaluate sustain release microspheres of Cefixime by orifice ionic gelation method. Different formulations were prepared using different ratios of drug and sodium alginate as polymer alone and in combination with co-polymers like, HPMC K15M using calcium chloride acts as cross linking agent. The particle size, morphology of microspheres were studied using optical, scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and it was shown that microspheres gave particles in the range of 642 ± 0.07 to 720 ± 0.03μm were with more spherical shape, smooth surface and showed good flowing properties. The entrapment efficiency of microspheres was determined and had concluded that as the concentration of polymer increased, the entrapment efficiency was also increased. The entrapment efficiency of all the formulations was found to be in the range of 88.30 ± 0.01% to 89.01 ± 0.08%. The FT-IR studies showed stable character of cefixime in the drug loaded microspheres and revealed the absence of drug-polymer interaction. Data obtained from in-vitro release were fitted to various kinetic models and drug release followed zero order kinetics, the “n” value obtained from Korsmeyer-Peppas model showed that microspheres followed non-fickian drug release mechanism.