Design and In-vitro Characterization of Levobunolol Hydrochloride Occuserts with Special Reference to Glaucoma Treatment

The aim of present study was to design and in-vitro characterization of Levobunolol HCl occuserts with special reference to glaucoma treatment. Levobunolol HCl ophthalmic solution has been shown to be effective in IOP and may be used in patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The Levobunolol HCl occuserts were prepared using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC, 3 & 4%), poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP, 1%), methyl cellulose (MC, 1 & 2%) as polymers by solvent casting technique with objectives of increasing contact time, achieving controlled release, reduction in frequency of administration and greater therapeutic efficacy. The prepared occuserts were then evaluated for there physical appearance and surface texture, weight variation, uniformity of thickness, tensile strength and % elongation at break, % moisture uptake, % moisture loss, folding endurance, drug content and in-vitro drug release. It is evident from these studies that, formed polymeric occuserts have appreciable strength and safety. Physiochemical characterization and tn-vttoo drug release studies reveals that, the prepared occusert formulations (F₂ & F₁)containing 4 % and 3 % HPMC had released their drug content, 83 % and 81 % respectively over an extended period of 12 hr. Hence, these formulations were selected as best optimized formulations.