Once a day azithromycin dihydrate ocular insert

Objective: Azithromycin Dihydrate is a macrolide antibiotic. It has similar structure like erythromycin. Preparation of ophthalmic topical drug delivery system Azithromycin Dihydrate is difficult because of hydrophobicity of drug. This drug used mostly in Trachoma ophthalmic disease. Oral administration could serve the purpose but concentration achieved on oral administration at eye site is very low which can not cure the disease and also causes systemic adverse effect. The aim of this study is to formulate a novel topical ocular delivery system of Azithromycin Dihydrate which can give patient compliance and also reduce the frequency of dosing.Methods: The present investigation was aimed at designing a once a day ocular inserts of Azithromycin Dihydrate by Hot melt extrusion technique to improve patient acceptability, using hydroxypropylcellulose as a thermoplastic polymer.Results: All studies and evaluation parameter before and after sterilization of insert like dissolution rate testing, weight variation, content uniformity, eye irritation and stability are at acceptable limit.Conclusions: The developed inserts were stable, non ? irritant and provided desired release of the drug over a period of 24 hours in vitro.