European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

MICROENCAPSULATION OF FOLIC ACID AND FERROUS ASCORBATE FOR ORAL ADMINISTRATION

Anjali and Dinesh Kaushik*

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present work was to formulate and evaluate the oral sustained releaseformulation of a model drug with a view to control the drug release for better patient compliance, to reduce the dose frequency and enhance the stability. Microparticles of ferrous ascorbate and folic acidrelease iron slowly, hence side effects are minimized. Increased absorption of iron & folic acid enhanced their bioavailability. The DSC & XRD studies show that both the drugs are amorphous in nature, there is no any chemical interaction occurs during the formulation and the microspheres encapsulate the drug properly. The melting point of ferrous ascorbate and folic acid was found 190°C and 250°C respectively. The surface viewed through SEM shows spherical and slightly smooth. Drug release kinetic study was performed, based on r2 value& it was concluded that the release of drug from the microspheres complies zero order kinetics i.e. the release is concentration independent. Hence this is a controlled release formulation.

Keywords: Microspheres, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM),ferrous ascorbate, folic acid, controlled release and Chitosan.