Design and Evaluation of Polymeric Controlled Release Natamycin Ocular Inserts

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to develop ocular drug delivery system for Natamycin; a polyene
antibiotic is highly useful for the treatment of conjunctivitis and keratitis. The ocuserts were prepared
using different polymers such as eudragit L-100, eudragit S-100, eudragit RL-100, hydroxy propyl
methyl cellulose phthalate and cellulose acetate phthalate at various proportion and combinations
using PEG-400 as plasticizer. The prepared ocuserts were evaluated for their physicochemical
parameters like drug content, weight uniformity, folding endurance, thickness, % moisture
absorption and water vapour transmission rate. The in vitro drug release from the formulations was
studied using commercial semi permeable membrane and the in vitro release kinetic datas were
treated according to the diffusion models proposed by Higuchi and Peppas in order to access the
mechanism of drug release from the formulations, which were following zero order kinetics. All the
formulations showed no change in the physical appearance and the FTIR studies indicated no
possibility of interaction between drug and polymer. The expected zero order release for one day was
observed in the formulation D1 (3% Eudragit RL100 and 1% Eudragit L100)