Pharmacokinetic study of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose microparticles loaded with cimetidine.

The objective of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetic behavior of floating hydroxypropylmethylcellulose microparticles loaded with cimetidine (FMC) prepared using the non-solvent addition coacervation technique. Based on the physico-chemical characteristics of three formulations (FMC1, FMC2 and FMC3), FMC2 having a 1:3 ratio of cimetidine:HPMC was found optimum. For in vivo analysis, a new HPLC analytical method was developed and validated. The optimized formulations were subjected to in vivo studies to calculate the various pharmacokinetic parameters for developed optimized microparticulate formulation FMC3. The developed floating microparticles of cimetidine were further evaluated by in vivo experimentation. The bioavailability parameters were found as: Cmax 1508.79 ± 37.95 ng/ml, Tmax 3.67 ± 0.17 h and AUC 14366.19 ± 377.64 ng h /mL. For prolonged drug release in the stomach, developed floating microparticles of cimetidine (FMC3) may be used, thereby improving the bioavailability and patient compliance.