IMPROVING THE SOLUBILITY AND BIOAVAILABILITY OF DULOXETINE HCL: A NOVEL FORMULATION APPROACH

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to formulate and evaluate enteric-coated mucoadhesive microspheres of Duloxetine Hydrochloride to improve its solubility, gastrointestinal stability, enhance patient compliance and provide sustained drug release. Duloxetine HCl microspheres were prepared using emulsification phase seperation technique with varying ratios of polymer matrices. The formulations incorporated mucoadhesive polymers (such as Carbopol) and enteric polymers to achieve the desired release profile. The microspheres were characterized for their particle size, morphology, drug loading and release kinetics. The microspheres exhibited a uniform size distribution and spherical morphology. Drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were found to be optimal in formulations with higher polymerisation. The formulation of enteric-coated mucoadhesive microspheres of Duloxetine HCl successfully achieved targeted delivery and controlled release. This approach can potentially enhance the therapeutic efficacy of Duloxetine HCl by reducing gastrointestinal side effects and improving patient adherence. Key words: Duloxetine HCl, Solubility Enhancement, Microspheres, Emulsification phase separation, Emulsification phase separation.