Sustained-release polymeric beads containing diclofenac sodium were fabricated with hydrophilic polymers, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na CMC), and sodium alginate (Na alginate). Particulate beads of Na CMC and Na alginate were prepared by the ionotropic gelation method using calcium chloride as a cross-linking agent. Beads of diclofenac sodium were prepared with different concentrations of polymers. Prepared beads were evaluated for their yield, particle size, drug entrapment efÞ ciency, release behavior and tested for the presence of incompatibility using FTIR measurement. The drug entrapment efÞ ciency varied between 73 and 92% in different formulations. For the same concentration of polymer, the release of diclofenac sodium from the beads was observed to be 82.69% and 91.33% for Na CMC and Na alginate, respectively, at the end of 10 h . The drug in beads maintained its identity after bead formation as observed by the FTIR study. From the study it could be concluded that multiparticulate beads of diclofenac sodium could be successfully prepared by the ionotropic gelation technique with high entrapment efÞ ciency and sustained-release characteristics.
Key words: Diclofenac sodium, ionotropic gelation, sodium alginate, sodium carboxy methyl cellulose.
