Formulation and evaluation of Rutin trihydrate loaded “Microsponges gel” for topical drug delivery

The aim of the present study was to formulate Rutin trihydrate loaded microsponges through quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion technique. Rutin trihydrate is a flavonoid glycoside that possesses anti-inflammatory and mild antibacterial property, however it belongs to BCS Class II. Rutin trihydrate microsponges were developed with various ratios of drug : polymer (Ethyl cellulose) to study the influence of composition on microsponge charecteristics.  The prepared microsponges were evaluated for production yield, particle size, entrapment efficiency, drug content, and in-vitro drug release.  FTIR study confirmed good compatibility between drug and excipients. Among all the formulations, F2 formulation showed better results compared to the other formulation. The percentage yield was found to be 90.2%, particle size was 10.62 µm, entrapment efficiency (%EE) was 93.6%, drug content was 88.9%, and drug release was 91.9% within 8 hours. The selected F2 formulation was incorporated into Carbopol gel and further evaluated for pH, viscosity, Spreadability, drug content, drug diffusion. The F2 microsponge-loaded gel exhibits suitable properties for topical application with drug diffusion of  82.04% over a period of 8 hours, indicating controlled drug release and potential for acne vulgaries treatment.