Formulation And Evaluation of Colon Targeted Delivery of Mesalamine for The Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

Conventional oral medications often fail to effectively treat colonic diseases, but Mesalamine is a preferred treatment for ulcerative colitis. This study prepared and optimized mesalamine microspheres using solvent evaporation method using cellulose acetate phthalate as enteric coating polymer for colon targeting. BoxBehnken design using design expert software was employed in formulating and optimizing the microspheres with three independent variables that is polymer concentration (X1), stirring speed (X2), and surfactant concentration (X3) and four dependent variables such as particle size, percentage entrapment efficiency, invitro drug release. The prepared microspheres underwent various evaluations, including particle size, drug entrapment, and release studies. Additionally, Fourier Transformed -Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies analyses confirmed drug-excipient compatibility and revealed the microspheres spherical shape. Optimized mesalamine microspheres (F7) showed high drug entrapment efficiency (87.55%), controlled release (1.06% in acidic medium, 93.59% at pH 6.8), and super case II transport mechanism, making them a promising carrier for colon-targeted drug delivery