In the present work the absorption of flutamide from suppositories containing hydrophilic tamarind alginate microparticles after rectal administration in rats was investigated with the purpose of enhancing bioavailability and to avoid hepatic toxicity. Microparticles were developed by ionic gelation method and optimized using one factorial design of response surface methodology. The optimized batch of microparticles had tamarind gum-sodium alginate (1 : 3) ratio and showed entrapment efficiency 94.969% and mucoadhesion strength 94.646% with desirability of 0.961. Suppositories loaded with microparticles were developed by fusion method using poloxamer 407 and poloxamer 188 in combination as suppository base. Kinetic analysis of the release data of microparticle-loaded suppositories showed time-independent release of drug. Higher values of 'n' (>0.89) represent Super Case II-type drug release. The pharmacokinetics of flutamide from flutamide tamarind alginate microparticle-loaded suppository were compared with oral suspension. C max of microparticle-loaded suppository was significantly larger than that of oral suspension (1.711 and 0.859 µg/ mL, respectively).Key words tamarind kernel polysaccharide; sodium alginate; ionic gelation; one factorial design; mucoadhesive microparticle-loaded poloxamer suppository; rectal delivery Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the second most common cause of death of men world-wide. A nonsteroidal antiandrogen flutamide could be used in combination with medical or surgical castration to provide superior care for patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Large studies have shown a longer disease-free interval and a short survival advantage with maximum androgen blockade compared with monotherapy, especially in younger, healthy patients with minimum metastatic disease.

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