ABSTRACT
Osteoarthritis predominantly affects the large weight bearing joints and the clinical characteristics include morning stiffness of short duration, stiffness or gelling on rest, pain on use, joint inflammation and bone deformity. Microcapsules of aceclofenac were formulated with methyl cellulose, sodium CMC and hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose by technique. The microcapsules showed excellent rheological properties for all batches. The formulations showed drug content uniformity with high drug entrapment efficiency. The in vitro wash off test revealed the mucoadhesive ability of the micro capsules. Scanning electron microscopy indicated structural and surface morphology uniformity. The in vitro release studies indicated sustained release of aceclofenac from the formulations. Kinetic study of the release data indicated the zero order release and non fickian sustained release mode of drug release. The microcapsules showed the correlation between wall thickness and drug release pattern.