126DESIGN, FORMULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF OFLOXACIN NANOSPHERESThe present work was to formulate sodium alginate nanospheres containing Ofloxacin by controlled gellification method. The formulated nanospheres was evaluated for external morphological studies using scanning electron microscope, Drug content, invitro release studies and IR spectral analysis. The particle size analysis was carried out by scanning electron microscopy and the size range was found to be 648.4 ± 0.27 nm. The carrier capacity of sodium alginate was evaluated in terms of drug to polymer ratio and the maximum drug loading was 37.8% for the batch 20 mcg/ml (OF-NS-II). And where there was an increase in drug concentration the drug loading capacity was reduced. In vitro release studies were carried out on all drug loaded batches through dialysis method and release kinetics was also determined. The study revealed that the release of drug from the nanospheres followed Fickian diffusion with acceptable release. The formulated Ofloxacin nanospheres could be a possible approach to treat bacterial infection kirankumaryellu@gmail.comResearch342012Ofloxacin,Nanospheres,Sodium Alginate,Controlled Gellification method,In Vitro and Kinetic release studiesY. Venkata Kiran Kumar,S. Jeganath,D. Venkatesh BabuDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Saastra College of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.,Department of Pharmaceutics, Saastra College of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.,Department of Pharmaceutics, Saastra College of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India.