Abstract

OPTIMIZATION OF 32 FULL FACTORIAL DESIGN BASED NORFLOXACIN NANOPARTICLES EMBEDDED THERMO SENSITIVE DROPPABLE GEL FOR OCULAR DRUG DELIVERY

Senthil Kumar Kannan*, Dhachinamoorthi Duraisamy and Yajaman Sudhakar

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to fabricate and optimize nanoparticle loaded thermo sensitive droppable gel contains norfloxacin(NFLX) for ophthalmic delivery. Norfloxacin nanoparticle were prepared by nanoprecipitation method and evaluated for particle size analysis, zeta potential, percentage entrapment efficiency and Invitro drug release studies. Based on evaluation nanoparticle formulation (D1) was dispersed into thermo sensitive droppable gel base (NP-TDGL). A preliminary trail of 9 Experiments (runs) were performed according to a 32 full factorial design (FFD) to evaluate the effects of two factors such as Pluronic-F-127 and HPMC K-100-M. Polynomial equation was generated by Design Expert 11.0 for the model which assists in determining the effect of independent variables. 3D Response surface plots (RSM) were also generated by the software for investigate effect of the independent variables on the response. Linear model was found to be the best for responses (Y1) and response (Y4) and quadratic model for response (Y2) and response(Y3). The optimized formulation (NF1) evaluated for drug content of the formulations was 100.14%. pH of the formulations was in the range 7.4, gelation temperature was in the range 34.2oC and cumulative % drug release was in the range of 67.33% at the end of 6 hr and simultaneously the release of drug based on the concentration of polymers used. Finally it was conclude that the developed NP-TDGL imparts prolonged corneal residence time and controlled drug release could be considered a viable alternative to the conventional eye drops in achieving enhanced bioavailability.

Keywords: Norfloxacin, Pluronic-F-127, design expert 11, quadratic model, Gelation temperature.