Development and Characterization of Occular Delivery of Moxifloxacin In-Situ Gel

Saravanakumar K*¹, Radhika C², Nagaveni P³, Nethra Vani G⁴, Lakshmi Prasanna T¹, Rajitha I^1
1Professor, Sree Vidyanikethan College of Pharmacy, A.Rangampet, Tirupati-517102, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India.
²Gokula Krishna College of Pharmacy, Sullurpet-524121, SPSR Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.
³Assistant Professor, Mahathi College of Pharmacy, Madanapalle, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India.
⁴Oil Technological and Pharmaceutical Research Institute, JNTUA-Ananthapuramu, A.P, India. 

A B S T R A C T
In-situ gelling systems are viscous polymer-based liquids that exhibit rapid sol-to-gel transformation triggered by external stimulus such as temperature, pH etc. on instillation on the occular surface. The aim of the present study was to formulate and evaluate pH responsive in-situ gel of Moxifloxicin, in view of increasing  precorneal  residence  time and bioavailability of the drug for occular delivery by the use of the gelling agent like sodium alginate (ion sensitive)and viscosity enhancers like HPMC. Moxifloxacin is a broad spectrum 8-methoxyfluoroquinolone antibiotic used for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis, keratitis and surgical prophylaxis and well tolerated with minimal occular side effects. However, rapid dilution on instillation, wash out, poor retention of drug concentration delimit the therapeutic benefits of the drug when used in form of conventional eye drops. The developed formulations were evaluated for clarity, pH measurement, drug content, rheological study, isotonicity, occular irritancy study, sterility study, antimicrobial activity and in-vitro permeation study . Thus, in-situ gel based systems containing gums can be a valuable approach for ophthalmic drug delivery when compared to conventional systems.
Keywords: Ophthalmic delivery, Hydrogels, pH induced method, Gelling capacity.