Formulation and evaluation of controlled release ocusert of gatifloxacin and prednisolone

Abstract

Objective - A challenge to pharmaceutical scientists is to bypass the shielding eye barriers with no major injury to the tissue. Ocuserts are sterile, solid, or semisolid dosage forms prepared to attain increased contact time between the drug and the conjunctival tissue to keep up a constant release of drug when placed in the lower cul-de-sac or conjunctival sac of the eye. The aim of formulating this delivery system was to treat both inflammatory and infectious conditions of the eye with increased ocular residence time by releasing drugs at a slow and constant rate.

Method - Gatifloxacin and Prednisolone ocuserts were prepared by solvent casting method and evaluated for physical appearance, uniformity of weight, thickness, folding endurance, drug content, surface pH, in-vitro, and ex-vivo release profile.

Results - All formulated inserts exhibited positive results in terms of their evaluation parameters. Ocuserts were sterile, with no turbidity in selected media during the study and they were stable throughout six months.

Conclusion - Results suggested that prepared optimized ocusert formulation would be a suitable alternative to eye drops for treating conjunctivitis and other bacterial infections.