Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of ibuprofen (IBP) in rabbits following administration of the drug-loaded interpenetrating network (IPN) beads and to compare the bioavailability of the drug from IPN beads with that from pure IBP and IBP Suspension. Materials and Methods: IPN beads, sodium carboxymethyl xanthan and sodium alginate was prepared by inotropic gelation process using AlCl3 as a cross linking agent. The plasma drug concentration was determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatographic method according to validation guidelines 2001. The chromatographic separation was carried out in WATERX BDS, C18 column with UV detection at 223 nm. Result: Though the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax (32.11 ± 2.03)) obtained from pure IBP (control) was higher than that of IBP suspension (reference (Cmax 30.05 ± 1.93)) and the time required to reach Cmax (Tmax) was less in the control (1.41 ± 0.37) than that of the reference product, the Cmax was significantly less and Tmax (2.91 ± 0.5) was higher from the drug loaded IPN beads than those from the both control and reference. Conclusions: Moreover, the relative bioavailability of the drug from the IPN beads was higher from the both control and reference products. This study revealed that IPN beads could be a suitable dosage form for IBP to achieve a sustained drug release.
Key words: IPN, Pharmacokinetic, Relative bioavailability, HPLC, Ibuprofen.