م.م مصطفى محمد نوري
  • Fabrication and characterization of new combination ocular insert for the combined delivery of tinidazole and levofloxacin
  • Bacterial keratitis is one of the widely used infection of the eye and usually treated with antibacterial eye drops. In complicated infection more than one eye drop is needed. Several problems arise from using eye drops such as frequent instillation and low patient compliance. The aim of the research is to formulate an ocular insert that have the ability to delivery two drugs at the same time with sustained release pattern. Several formulations were used utilizing HPMC K15M as the main polymer with polyvinyl pyrrolidone k30, Carbopol 934, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and Ethyl cellulose as polymer blends, propylene glycol as plasticizer and levofloxacin and tinidazole as antibacterial agents. Different formulation were prepared using solvent casting method and evaluated for their weight variation, thickness, drug content, pH, in-vitro drug release and kinetics. The formula with 1:1 HPMC K15M :Carbopol 934 was chosen as the optimum formula which showed proper physical properties and had the proper strength and mucoadhesion with high swelling index and sustained release of both drugs for around 12 h. When examined in animals no irritation was observed and also the drug remain in ocular tissues for a long period. Levofloxacin and tinidazole were successfully formulated as solid insert and sustained the release of both drugs for around 24 h. The approach of solid insert is promising approach to overcome problems with topical ocular delivery