Development And Assessment Of Floating Microcapsules For Safinamide Mesylate In Parkinson’s Therapy

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects motor function due to dopamine depletion. Safinamide mesylate, a selective monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitor, is widely used as an adjunct therapy in PD management. However, its therapeutic effectiveness is often limited by poor bioavailability and a short half-life, necessitating frequent dosing. To address these challenges, this study focuses on the development and assessment of floating microcapsules for Safinamide mesylate using a gastro-retentive drug delivery system. Floating microcapsules enhance gastric retention, ensuring sustained drug release and improved absorption in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Various polymers, including HPMC K4M, HPMC K15M, chitosan, and carbopol, were used to optimize buoyancy and control drug release kinetics. The formulated microcapsules were characterized based on particle size, surface morphology, entrapment efficiency, in vitro buoyancy, and drug release profiles. Results demonstrated that the optimized formulation exhibited prolonged gastric retention and controlled drug release, reducing fluctuations in plasma drug levels. The floating microcapsules showed high drug entrapment efficiency and excellent buoyancy, making them a viable alternative to conventional dosage forms. This sustained drug release approach minimizes dose frequency, enhances patient compliance, and potentially improves treatment outcomes for Parkinson’s patients. While the in vitro findings are promising, further in vivo and clinical evaluations are required to confirm the efficacy and safety of the developed formulation. This study establishes floating microcapsules as a novel and effective drug delivery system for improving the pharmacokinetic profile of Safinamide mesylate in Parkinson’s therapy.