This document summarizes a research project evaluating microencapsulation of diclofenac sodium using the emulsion solvent evaporation technique. Microcapsules were prepared using ethyl cellulose and chloroform to encapsulate the diclofenac sodium core material. The microcapsules were characterized based on particle size distribution, shape, drug content, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro drug release. Spherical and discrete microcapsules between 669-759 microns in size were produced. Increasing the polymer concentration decreased the drug release rate from the microcapsules. The microencapsulation successfully produced sustained release diclofenac sodium microcapsules for further in vivo study.

1. EVALUATION
OF
MICROENCAPSULATION
PRESENTED BY :_
MR. ANURAG PDY (B.PHARM)
SUBMITTED TO :_
MR.VIPIN AGARWAL
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
AT
(INVERTIS INSTITUTE OF PHARMACY)

2. INTRODUCTION
Microencapsulation is one of the most interesting modes of drug delivery systems.
It is an interdisciplinary field that requires knowledge of field of pure polymer science, familiarity in emulsion
technology and an in-depth understanding of drug and protein stabilization.
It is a process in which very tiny droplets or particles of liquid or solid material are surrounded or coated with a
continuous film of polymeric material, ranging in size from 1 to 5,000 microns.
This technique is mainly used for taste masking of bitter drugs, formulation of controlled release and sustained
action dosage forms, separation of incompatible materials, protection of moisture and light sensitive drugs.
Diclofenac sodium (DS) is a Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) belongs to the group of aryl acetic acid
derivative.
It is widely used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
Because of its short biological half-life (2 hrs.), it is eliminated from plasma compartments of the body within few
hours, so frequent administration is necessary to maintain its therapeutic concentration.
Evaluation of sustained release
microcapsules containing Diclofenac sodium

3. (Continued…….)
It also known that repeated oral administration of DS in the large doses causes gastrointestinal disturbances,
peptic ulcer and bleeding.
The usual therapeutic dose and dosing frequency of conventional DS tablets is high, because of the short
biological half-life of the drug (2 hrs.); makes it an ideal candidate for modified release dosage forms.
To reduce the frequency of administrations and to improve patient compliances, once daily sustained release
dosage forms of DS is desirable.
The choice of the methods for the preparation of microcapsules depends on many factors such as the drug
solubility, partition co-efficiency, polymer composition, molecular weight etc.
For instance, emulsion solvent evaporation technique may be a method of choice for the preparation of
microspheres of water insoluble drugs.
In the emulsion solvent evaporation method, the water insoluble drug and polymer are dissolved in an organic
phase, emulsified to form an o/w emulsion, evaporated the organic phase and the microcapsules so formed are
filtered and dried.
Since Diclofenac is a water insoluble drug, emulsion solvent evaporation technique is selected for the preparation
of sustained release microcapsules

4. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1. Materials
Ethyl cellulose, sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose, chloroform, hydrochloric acid and methanol.
All reagents used were of analytical reagent grade.
Double distilled water was used for all the experiments.
2.2. Preparation of DS microcapsules
DS microcapsules were prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation technique by employing the
chloroform as solvent and ethyl cellulose as a polymer with a core: coat ratio of 1:1, 2:3 and 2:1.
The polymer (1, 1.5 and 0.5 g) was dissolved in chloroform (25 mL) to form a homogeneous
polymer solution.
Core material DS (1 g) was added to the polymer solution and mixed thoroughly.
The resulting solution was then added in a thin stream to 100 mL of 0.1N HCl containing 1% w/v
sodium carboxyl methylcellulose contained in a 250 mL beaker while stirring at 600 rpm to emulsify
the added droplets.
Stirring was continued for 10 min to disperse the added mixture as fine droplets.
The dispersion was transferred to a Buchner flask and stirring was continued with laboratory stirrer.
The solvent was then removed by evaporation at room temperature to produce spherical
microcapsules.
The microcapsules were collected by decantation and washed with water.
The product was then dried at 600 C for 1 h to get discrete microcapsules.

5. 2.3. Characterization of DS microcapsules
2.3.1. Particle Size Distribution
Different sizes of microcapsules in a batch were separated by sieve analysis [11] using a range of standard
sieves (#10, #22, #44, #52 and # 60). The amount retained on different sieves was weighed. From the
obtained data, weight percent retained on different sieves and average size of microcapsules were
calculated.
2.3.2. Shape and surface morphology
The shape and surface morphology of the microcapsules
was studied by using scanning electron microscope. Microcapsules were mounted directly onto the SEM
sample stub using double-sided sticking tape and coated with gold film (thickness 200 nm) under reduced
pressure (0.001 mm of Hg).
2.3.3. Practical yield
The percentage yield of DS in the microencapsulated
product is determined by using the formula,

6. 2.3.4. Percentage drug content
Microcapsules equivalent to 50 mg of DS were weighed accurately and dissolved in the 10 ml of
chloroform. The solution was filtered, diluted suitably and drug content was analyzed at 285 nm by UV
spectrophotometer. Each sample analyzed in triplicate. Percentage drug content was calculated for all
batches using the equation as follows:
2.3.5. Encapsulation efficiency
The encapsulation efficiency of microcapsules was
Calculated by using the formula:

7. 2.3.6. In vitro drug release studies
In vitro release profile for microcapsules as well as pure drug were performed using USP XXII type 2
dissolution apparatus. Sample equivalent to 100 mg of Diclofenac was added to 900mL phosphate buffer of
pH 7.4 at 37±0.5ºC and stirred at 50 rpm. Aliquot of 5 mL was withdrawn at time intervals of 0.25, 0.5,
0.75, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 h. The with drawn volume was replenished with the same volume of
dissolution medium in order to keep the total volume constant. The absorbance of the samples was
measured at λ max 285 nm after suitable dilution if necessary, using phosphate buffer of pH 7.4 as blank.
Results of in vitro drug release studies obtained from absorbance data were tabulated and shown
graphically as Cumulative % drug released V/s Time.

8. * The percentage practical yield decreased as the concentration of polymer
increased in the formulation. The percentage practical yield was found to be in
the range of 62.84 to 80.85 %. The maximum percentage practical yield was
found to be 80.85% for F-1. The microcapsules of all three batches were found
to be discrete, spherical, free-flowing and of uniform in size. The average size
of microcapsules in various batches was found to be 759.12 μm, 669.97 μm and
758.7 μm for F-1, F-2 and F-3, respectively.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

9. 4. CONCLUSIONS
Sustained release DS microcapsules could be formulated by
using ethyl cellulose as a release retardant by emulsion solvent
evaporation technique.
The microcapsules of all the formulated batches were spherical,
discrete and free flowing.
The drug content was found to be uniform in a batch of
microcapsules.
Increasing the polymer concentration in microcapsule
formulation decreases the rate of drug release dramatically.
Further, an elaborate in vivo study is to be carried out for the
formulated microcapsule using a suitable animal model.

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