ABSTRACT:
Captopril is an ACE inhibitor that is used for the treatment of hypertension. The purpose of this study was to encapsulate the drug in different polymer having mucoadhesive property and thus combining the advantages of microparticulates with mucoadhesive drug delivery system. The microcapsules with a coat consisting of alginate and a mucoadhesive polymer such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC), methylcellulose, Carbopol 934P and hydroxyl propylmethylceullulose (HPMC) E15V were prepared by ionotropic gelation technique, where gelation was achieved with oppositely charged counter ions to form microparticles. The prepared microcapsules were subjected for various evaluations. The resulting microparticles were discrete, large, spherical and free–flowing. Captopril release from these microcapsules was slow and extended over longer period of time. Drug release for some formulation was diffusion controlled and others exhibited anomalous behavior. The prepared microcapsules exhibited good mucoadhesive property in the in vitro wash–off test. Among all formulations, batch containing sodium alginate and carbopol 934 showed higher encapsulation efficiencies, good flow property and maximum prolongation of drug release and good mucoadhesion properties.