FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF MICROSPHERES FOR NASAL DELIVERY OF ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE DRUG

Lisinopril is used in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure in myocardial infarction and also in diabetic nephropathy. It is very poorly absorbed from GIT. Intranasal administration is an ideal alternative to the parenteral route for systemic drug delivery. Formulating multiparticulate system with mucoadhesive polymers may provide a significant increase in the nasal residence time. The microspheres prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation method were characterized for encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, particle size, surface morphology, degree of swelling, ex vivo mucoadhesion, drug release and ex vivo diffusion studies. Entrapment efficiency of microspheres was in range of 84.95±0.50% to 97.44±0.61% mucoadhesion was 83.76% and 94.41% and drug release up to 40 minutes was 53.66% to 88.32%. In ex vivo studies, the microspheres showed good bioavailability by nasal route compared to oral drug administration. Both in vitro and in vivo studies conclude that combination of Carbopol and HPMC based microspheres are better than single carbopol-based formulation for the delivery of lisinopril.