Controlled ocular drug delivery of ofloxacin using temperature modulated in situ gelling system

Abstract

Background: The designing of ocular dosage form off ers complicated issues. Numerous protective mechanisms are present in the eye to prevent the absorption of drug candidate from the corneal membrane. The poor bioavailability and therapeutic response exhibited by conventional ophthalmic solutions due to rapid precorneal elimination of the drug may be overcome by the use of in situ gel forming systems, which are instilled as drops into the eye and then undergo a sol-gel transition in the cul-de-sac. In situ forming polymeric formulations drug delivery systems is in sol form before administration in the body, but once administered, undergoes gelation in situ to form a gel. The formulation of gel depends upon factors like temperature modulation, pH changes, presence of ions, and ultraviolet irradiation, from which drug gets released in sustained and controlled manner. Objective: The present investigation deals with formulation and evaluation of Pluronic; based in situ gel of ofloxacin. Material and Method: Pluronic as gelling agent, HPMC as viscosity modifying agent was used. Ofloxacin was used as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient. Results: In vitro drug release studies indicated that the formulated in situ gel retained the drug better than the conventional dosage forms. The formulations were therapeutically efficacious, sterile, stable, and provided controlled release of the drug over a period of time. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the developed system is an alternative to conventional ophthalmic drops, patient compliance, industrially-oriented, and economical.

Keywords

• Controlled opthalmic delivery
• novel in situ gel
• ocular drug delivery
• ofloxacin
• temperature modulated in situ gel