Formulation and in-vitro evaluation of Mucoadhesive Ocular Inserts for Enhanced Retention of Sulfacetamide Sodium

Abstract

The present study focuses on the formulation and in-vitro evaluation of mucoadhesive ocular inserts to enhance the retention time and bioavailability of Sulfacetamide Sodium, a widely used antibiotic for treating bacterial conjunctivitis and other ocular infections. Conventional eye drops suffer from rapid precorneal elimination, leading to poor therapeutic efficacy and frequent dosing. To overcome these limitations, mucoadhesive ocular inserts were developed using hydrophilic polymers such as HPMC, sodium alginate, and chitosan, which provide prolonged drug release and improved adhesion to the ocular mucosa. The inserts were prepared using solvent casting techniques and evaluated for physicochemical properties, swelling index, tensile strength, in-vitro drug release, ex-vivo mucoadhesion, and sterility. FTIR analysis confirmed drug-polymer compatibility, and in-vitro release studies demonstrated sustained drug release for over 12 hours, following nonFickian diffusion kinetics. Ex-vivo mucoadhesion studies revealed significant adhesion potential, ensuring prolonged retention in the ocular cavity. The optimized formulation exhibited enhanced bioavailability, reduced dosing frequency, and improved patient compliance, making it a promising alternative for the sustained ocular delivery of Sulfacetamide Sodium.