Preparation and In vitro Characterization of PCL Microspheres of Acetazolamide

Drug micro-particle formulation is a very good technique leading to a product called icrosuspension. Acetazolamide is used orally for the reduction of Intra Ocular Pressure (IOP) in patients suffering from glaucoma. Acetazolamide is practically insoluble in water and in the aqueous tear fluid, and this limits its ocular bioavailability. Several attempts have been made to formulate topically active acetazolamide in order to minimize its systemic side effects. Poly-ε-caprolatone (PCL) is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer and does not generate an acid environment, also it possesses high hydrophobicity. So acetazolamide loaded PCL microsphere was prepared and optimized by physical parameters. Microsphere prepared with rotation speed of 1500 rpm having less size and smooth surface morphology, further faster rate of addition of drug polymer mixture did not get sufficient time to diffuse in aqueous PVA solution, so leads to formation of larger size of microsphere and vice versa. Dissolution studies of different batches of acetazolamide loaded PCL microsphere reveals that there is 87% of the drug release at the end of 12 hrs.