Formulation and release characteristics of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose matrix tablet containing melatonin

Modified release of coated sugar spheres using drug-containing polymeric dispersions

A drug-containing polymeric dispersion was applied onto nonpareil sugar spheres (18/20 mesh) using a fluid-bed spray coater. Eudragit RS30D was selected as the polymeric coating material. Melatonin secreted by the pineal gland in a circadian rhythm was used as a model drug. The release behaviors of the coated sugar spheres were investigated in gastric fluid (pH 1.4) for 2 h, and then continuously in intestinal fluid (pH 7.4) for 14 h. The release rate of the coated sugar spheres decreased with increasing coating levels. The solvent (ethanol) in the coating dispersions significantly decreased the release of the drug due to the good dispersion of the low solubility melatonin in the polymeric films. The polymer (polyvinylpyrrolidone, PVP) and drug contents in the coating dispersions did not affect the release rate. Most of all, the release profiles were drastically changed according to the type and concentration of plasticizers used. The current coating methods that use drug-containing polymeric dispersions could be useful for simultaneous drug loadings and their modified release. The solubilization and controlled release of poorly water-soluble drugs can be achieved as both the solubilizers and drugs are present in the drug-containing polymeric dispersions.

Formulation, release characteristics and bioavailability of novel monolithic hydroxypropylmethylcellulose matrix tablets containing acetaminophen

Effect of incorporating pharmaceutical excipients on the in vitro release profiles and the release mechanism of monolithic hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (4000 cps) matrix tablets (m-HPMC tablets) in terms of mimicking the dual drug release character of bi-layered Tylenol ER tablets was studied. We also compared the in vitro release profiles of optimized m-HPMC matrix tablet and Tylenol ER tablet in water, pH 1.2 gastric fluid, and pH 6.8 intestinal fluid, and in vivo drug bioavailabilities in healthy human volunteers. Acetaminophen was used as the model drug. The m-HPMC tablets were prepared using a wet granulation method followed by direct compression. Release profiles and swelling rates of m-HPMC tablets were found to be highly influenced by the types and amounts of pharmaceutical excipients incorporated. Starch 1500 (Prejel) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) played a key role in determining the dissolution rate of m-HPMC tablets. Additional excipients, i.e., microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel PH101) and NaH2PO4 were used to tune the release profiles of m-HPMC tablets. The effect of pharmaceutical excipients on drug release from HPMC-based matrix tablets was found to be mainly due to a change in hydrophilic gel expansion and on physical interactions between the drug and HPMC. The optimized m-HPMC tablet with a balanced ratio of Prejel, SLS, Avicel PH101, and NaH2PO4 in the formulation showed dual release profiles in water, pH 1.2 gastric fluid, and pH 6.8 intestinal fluid in vitro. Dual release was defined as immediate drug release within few minutes followed by extended release over 8 h. The similarity factors of m-HPMC tablets and bi-layered Tylenol ER tablets were 79.8, 66.1, and 82.7 in water, gastric fluid and intestinal fluid, respectively, indicating the equivalence of the two release profiles. No significant in vivo bioavailability differences were observed in healthy human volunteers. The developed m-HPMC tablet with dual release characteristics can be easily prepared using a conventional high-speed tablet machine and could provide an alternative to commercially available bilayered Tylenol ER tablets.

Effect of solvents on physical properties and release characteristics of monolithic hydroxypropylmethylcellulose matrix granules and tablets

Effect of solvents on physical characteristics and release characteristics of monolithic acetaminophen (APAP) hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) matrix granules and tablets were examined. Various types and amounts of solvents were employed for granulation and cOAting. APAP and other excipients were mixed and were then wet-granulated in a high-speed mixer. The dried granules were then directly compressed and film-coated with low viscosity grade HPMC. As the amount of water increased, the size of granules also increased, showing more spherical and regular shape. However, manufacturing problems such as capping and lamination in tableting occurred when water was used alone as a granulating solvent. The physical properties of HPMC matrix granules were not affected by the batch size. The initial release rate as well as the amount of APAP dissolved had a tendency to decrease as the water level increased. Addition of nonaqueous solvent like ethanol to water resulted in good physical properties of granules. When compared to water/ethanol as a coating solvent, the release rate of film-coated HPMC matrix tablets was more sensitive to the conditions of coating and drying in methylene chloride/ethanol. Most of all, monolithic HPMC matrix tablet when granulated in ethanol/water showed dual release with about 50% drug release immediately within few minutes followed by extended release. It was evident that the type and amount of solvents (mainly water and ethanol) were very important for wet granulation and film-coating of monolithic HPMC matrix tablet, because the plastic deforming and fragmenting properties of material were changed by the different strengths of the different solvents.

Release behavior and photo-image of nifedipine tablet coated with high viscosity grade hydroxypropylmethylcellulose: effect of coating conditions

An orally applicable nifedipine-loaded core tablets was coated using high viscosity grade HPMC (100,000 cps) in ethanol/water cosolvent. The release of coated tablet was evaluated using USP paddle method in 900 ml of simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) for 2 h followed by intestinal fluid (pH 6.8) for 10 h. The surface morphologies using scanning electron microscope and photo-images using digital camera of coated tablet during the release test were also visualized, respectively. The viscosity of hydro-alcoholic HPMC solution largely decreased as the amount of ethanol increased. There was no significant difference in viscosity among plasticizers used. The distinct and continuous coated layer was observed using scanning electron microscope. However, the surface morphologies were highly dependent on HPMC concentration and ratio of coating solvents. The higher ratio of ethanol/water gave a longer lag time prior to drug release. Lag time also increased as a function of the coating levels based on weight gains due to increased thickness of coated layer. Lag time is inversely correlated with HPMC concentration in ethanol/water (5:1) cosolvent. As the HPMC concentration slightly decreased from 3.8 to 3.2% in hydroalcoholic coating solution, a large increase of lag time was observed. As the swelling (mixing) time of high viscosity grade HPMC in ethanol/water cosolvent increased from 1 to 5 h, the release rate was decreased due to enough plasticization of polymer. Based on photo-imaging analysis, the coated tablet was initially swelled and gelled without erosion and disintegration over 5 h. The disintegration of the coated tablet was occurred approximately 7 h after dissolution, resulting in pulsed release of drug. The high viscosity grade HPMC can be applicable for polymeric coating after careful selection of solvent systems. The release behavior and lag time could be controlled by coating conditions such as HPMC concentration, ethanol/water ratio as a coating solvent, coating level and swelling (mixing) time of coating solution. The current time-controlled release tablet coated with high viscosity grade HPMC with a designated lag time followed by a rapid release may provide an alternative to site specific or colonic delivery of drugs. In addition, the release behavior can be matched with body's circadian rhythm pattern in chronotherapy.

Hydrophilic matrices for controlled drug delivery: an improved mathematical model to predict the resulting drug release kinetics (the "sequential layer" model)

PURPOSE

The aims of this study were (i) to elucidate the transport mechanisms involved in drug release from hydrophilic matrices; and (ii) to develop an improved mathematical model allowing quantitative predictions of the resulting release kinetics.

METHODS

Our previously presented model has been substantially modified, by adding: (i) inhomogeneous swelling; (ii) poorly water-soluble drugs; and (iii) high initial drug loadings. The validity of the improved model has been tested experimentally using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)-matrices, containing either a poorly or a freely water-soluble drug (theophylline or chlorpheniramine maleate) at various initial loadings in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 and 0.1 N HCl, respectively.

RESULTS

By overcoming the assumption of homogeneous swelling we show that the agreement between theory and experiment could be significantly improved. Among others, the model could describe quantitatively even the very complex effect on the resulting relative release rates (first slowing down, then accelerating drug release) observed when increasing the initial loading of poorly water-soluble drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

The practical benefit of this work is an improved design model that can be used to predict accurately the required composition and dimensions of drug-loaded hydrophilic matrices in order to achieve desired release profiles, thus facilitating the development of new pharmaceutical products.

Controlled release of dual drug-loaded hydroxypropyl methylcellulose matrix tablet using drug-containing polymeric coatings

A dual drug-loaded hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) matrix tablet simultaneously containing drug in inner tablet core and outer coated layer was formulated using drug-containing aqueous-based polymeric Eudragit RS30D dispersions. Effects of coating levels, drug loadings in outer layers, amount and type of five plasticizers and talc concentration on the release characteristics were evaluated on the characteristics in simulated gastric fluid for 2 h followed by a study in intestinal fluids. Melatonin (MT) was selected as a model drug. The surface morphology of dual drug-loaded HPMC tablets using scanning electron microscope (SEM) was smooth, showing the distinct coated layer with about 75-microm coating thickness at the 15% coating level. Unlike the uncoated and conventionally coated HPMC tablet, the dual drug-loaded HPMC matrix tablet gave a biphasic linear release, showing a zero-order for 4 h (first) followed by another zero-order release when fitted using linear regression (r(2) = 0.99). As the coating levels (15, 25%) increased, the release rate was further decreased. The biphasic release profiles of dual drug-loaded HPMC matrix tablet was unchanged except when 25% coating level containing 0.5% drug concentration was applied. As the drug concentration in polymeric coating dispersion increased (0.25-1.0%), the amount of drug released increased. The time for the first linear release was also advanced. However, the biphasic release pattern was not changed. The biphasic release profiles of dual drug-loaded HPMC matrix tablet were highly modified, depending on the amount and type of five plasticizers. Talc (10-30%) in coating dispersion as an anti-sticking material did not affect the release profiles. The current dual drug-loaded HPMC matrix tablet, showing biphasic release profiles may provide an alternative to deliver drugs with circadian rhythmic behaviors in the body but needs to be further validated in future in human studies. The dual drug-loaded coating method is also interesting for the modified release of poorly water-soluble drugs because solubilizers and other additives can be added in drug-containing polymeric coating dispersions.