Evaluation of Novel Ion Sensitive In situ Gelling Polymer in the Development of Ophthalmic Drug Delivery System

Atish S Mundada*, Deepak B Ghorpade

The attempt has been made in the present work to formulate an ion sensitive in situ gel of an antibacterial agent, Ciprofloxacin HCl employing a novel in situ gelling low methoxy pectin (obtained from the heads of Helianthus annuus Linn) as bioadhesive polymer. The drug loaded in situ gelling formulation was developed employing the cold method. The prepared formulations were evaluated for appearance, clarity, pH, gelling capacity, viscosity, drug content, mucoadhesive force, gelling strength, in vitro drug release, isotonicity study, sterility test and stability study. The results of various physicochemical evaluation shows that the formulation comprising of 2.5% w/v low methoxy pectin to be considered as an optimized in terms of gelling capacity, viscosity, gelling strength, the drug release study giving sustained release behavior over period of 11 h. Thus we claim that ion sensitive in situ gel of Ciprofloxacin HCl was successfully formulated using low methoxy pectin obtained from heads of Helianthus annuus L as a natural ion sensitive, bioadhesive polymer. Thus, it can be concluded that formulation containing low methoxy pectin (2.5% w/v) showed better potential for sustained topical ocular delivery as supported by ex- vivo test studies.