Biopharmaceutical evaluation of gelatin microcapsules of several oral antibiotics.

Abstract

Microencapsulation of 3 orally administered antibiotics (ampicillin, amoxicillin and cefalexin) was studied. Good reproducibility in microcapsule preparations was obtained, as in the case of the sulfonamides reported previously. In comparison with the release profile of ampicillin powder, sustained ampicillin release was observed from the microcapsules in the neutral medium. Gastric-emptying-controlled rabbits were used for the in vivo evaluation of microcapsules. No sustained release was observed from microcapsules of amoxicillin and cefalexin. The gelatin microcapsules containing ampicillin showed significant sustained release of ampicillin.