Abstract

Verapamil hydrochloride microcapsules prepared with sodium alginate, carbopol and magnesium start in different ratios of polymers with the drug by the iconic Gelation Technique and the prepared microcapsules were evaluated for size range, drug content, drug release profiles, and kinetics of drug release. All the microcapsules were discrete, free flowing, and reproducible with respect to size distribution and drug content. The maximum percentage of the microcapsules belonged to the size range of 500µm. Drug release from the microcapsules (MC1 andMC2) was 94-97 % in first 6 hours, with the initial burst of nearly 50% within one hour. Drug release from microcapsules (MC3 and MC4) was 90-95% and sustained up to 8 h with initial burst of 50-54 % in first 6 h, resulted with increase in cross-linking time for 5-6 hours, Drug release from microcapsules (MC5 and MC6) sustained the drug release up-to 12 hours, with an initial burst release of 35-37 % within first one hour with increase in cross-linking time for 5-6 hours and addition of magnesium stearate (2-4 %w/w) and cumulative release of over 90-93% and indicated that the drug release from the microcapsules was found to be slow and spread over an extended drug release. Based on r2 values the drug release followed first order kinetics and diffusion mechanism. Drug release from the microcapsules depends on the composition of the coat, cross linking time and also influenced by magnesium stearate. Keywords: Verapamil Hydrochloride, Calcium channel blocker, Hypertension, Angina pectoris, Cardiac arrhythmias, Microcapsules and Sustained release

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