FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF METOPROLOL SUCCINATE FLOATING MICROSPHERES

The present study an attempt has been made to formulate metoprolol succinate into microspheers floating dosage form which can be expected to prolong the gastric residence time of active compounds and reduce the variability of transit. They are supposedly capable of increasing the bioavailability of drugs that are mainly absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract. For that purpose, drug release has to be sustained. It would be faster and more economical to alter beneficially the properties of the existing drugs than developing new drug entities. Metoprolol succinate is ß2 selective blocking agent which is used in management of hypertension. Metoprolol succinate floating drug delivery system was prepared using natural and gas forming agent Sodium bicarbonate. prepared microspheres were evaluated for buoyancy test, swelling study, drug content and In Vitro release profile. The prepared microspheres showed acceptable physicochemical characteristics. All the prepared batches showed fine In Vitro buoyancy. The release data were subjected to different models zero order, first order Higuchi and Pappas in order to evaluate their release kinetics and mechanisms. Floating microspheres of Metoprolol succinate can be prepared well with combination of Xanthan gum and guar gum that shows controlled drug release up to 12 hours. Keywords: Floating drug delivery, Metoprolol succinate, microspheres