title: Formulation and characterization of floating microballoons of nizatidine for effective treatment of gastric ulcers in murine model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study was to formulate and characterize Nizatidine-encapsulated microballoons for enhancing bioavailability and increasing the residence time of drug in the gastrointestinal tract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microballoons were prepared using emulsion solvent diffusion method using Eudragit S-100 and HPMC as the polymer. The formulation process was optimized for polymer ratio, drug: polymer ratio, emulsifier concentration, stirring speed, stirring time. Optimized formulation was subjected to scanning electron microscopy, drug entrapment, buoyancy studies, in-vitro drug release and in-vivo floating efficiency (X-ray) study. In-vivo antiulcer activity was assessed by ethanol-induced ulcer in murine model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The microballoons were smooth and spherical in shape and were porous in nature due to hollow core. A sustained release of drug was observed for 12 h. Examination of the sequential X-ray images taken during the study clearly indicated that the optimized formulation remained buoyant and uniformly distributed in the gastric contents for a period of 12 h. In ethanol-induced ulcer model, drug-loaded Microballoon-treated group showed significant (p < 0.01) ulcer protection index as compared to free drug-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nizatidine-loaded floating microballoons may serve as a useful drug delivery system for prolonging the gastric residence time and effective treatment of gastric ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutics Research Laboratory and.
authors.forename: Akash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Aditya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganeshpurkar
authors.forename: Nazneen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: Divya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bansal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D065546:Drug Liberation; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008863:Microspheres; D016567:Nizatidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016567:Nizatidine
keywords: Buoyancy; X-rays; ethanol-induced ulcer; microballoons; nizatidine