Sustained release from matrix system comprising hydrophobia and hydrophilic (gel-forming) parts

Study the effect of formulation variables on drug release from hydrophilic matrix tablets of milnacipran and prediction of in-vivo plasma profile

The objective of this study was to design oral controlled release (CR) matrix tablets of Milnacipran using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as the retardant polymer and to study the effect of various formulation factors such as polymer proportion, polymer viscosity, compression force and also the pH of dissolution medium on the in-vitro release of drug. Two viscosity grade of HPMC (15 K and 100 K) were used in the proportion of 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg per CR tablet. In-vitro release rate was characterized using various model dependent approaches and model independent dissolution parameters [T50% and T80% dissolution time, mean dissolution time (MDT), mean residence time (MRT), dissolution efficiency (DE)]. The statistical analysis was performed on all the model independent approaches using student t test and ANOVA. Results were found that as polymer concentration (50 mg to 200 mg) and viscosity (15 K to 100 K) increases, the MDT, MRT, T50% and T80% extended significantly. Drug release rate was found to be significantly different at different hardness. In-vivo human plasma concentration--time profile was predicted from in-vitro release data using convolution method. Predicted human pharmacokinetic parameters shows that the design CR formulation has capability to sustained the plasma drug level of milnacipran.

Development of sustained release capsules containing "coated matrix granules of metoprolol tartrate"

The objective of this investigation was to prepare sustained release capsule containing coated matrix granules of metoprolol tartrate and to study its in vitro release and in vivo absorption. The design of dosage form was performed by choosing hydrophilic hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC K100M) and hydrophobic ethyl cellulose (EC) polymers as matrix builders and Eudragit® RL/RS as coating polymers. Granules were prepared by composing drug with HPMC K100M, EC, dicalcium phosphate by wet granulation method with subsequent coating. Optimized formulation of metoprolol tartrate was formed by using 30% HPMC K100M, 20% EC, and ratio of Eudragit® RS/RL as 97.5:2.5 at 25% coating level. Capsules were filled with free flowing optimized granules of uniform drug content. This extended the release period upto 12 h in vitro study. Similarity factor and mean dissolution time were also reported to compare various dissolution profiles. The network formed by HPMC and EC had been coupled satisfactorily with the controlled resistance offered by Eudragit® RS. The release mechanism of capsules followed Korsemeyer-Peppas model that indicated significant contribution of erosion effect of hydrophilic polymer. Biopharmaceutical study of this optimized dosage form in rabbit model showed 10 h prolonged drug release in vivo. A close correlation (R(2) = 0.9434) was established between the in vitro release and the in vivo absorption of drug. The results suggested that wet granulation with subsequent coating by fluidized bed technique, is a suitable method to formulate sustained release capsules of metoprolol tartrate and it can perform therapeutically better than conventional immediate release dosage form.

Thermogravimetric investigation of the hydration behaviour of hydrophilic matrices

This article proposes thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) as a useful method to investigate the hydration behaviour of hydrophilic matrix tablets containing hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) or a mixture of these two polymers and four drugs with different solubility. The hydration behaviour of matrix systems was studied as a function of the formulation composition and of the dissolution medium pH. TGA results suggest that the hydration of matrices containing HPMC is pH-independent and not affected by the characteristics of the loaded drug; this confirms HPMC as a good polymer to formulate controlled drug delivery systems. On the other hand, the performances of NaCMC matrix tablets are significantly affected by the medium pH and the hydration and swelling of this ionic polymer is influenced by the loaded drug. For systems containing the two polymers, HPMC plays a dominant role in the hydration/dissolution process at acidic pH, while at near neutral pH both the cellulose derivatives exert a significant influence on the hydration performance of systems. The results of this work show that TGA is able to give quantitative highlights on the hydration behaviour of polymeric materials; thus this technique could be a helpful tool to support conventional hydration/swelling/dissolution studies.

Controlled-release carbamazepine matrix granules and tablets comprising lipophilic and hydrophilic components

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of lipophilic (Compritol 888 ATO) and hydrophilic components (combination of HPMC and Avicel) on the release of carbamazepine from granules and corresponding tablet. Wet granulation followed by compression was employed for preparation of granules and tablets. The matrix swelling behavior was investigated. The dissolution profiles of each formulation were compared to those of Tegretol CR tablets and the mean dissolution time (MDT), dissolution efficiency (DE%), and similarity factor (f(2) factor) were calculated. It was found that increase in the concentration of HPMC results in reduction in the release rate from granules and achievement of zero-order is difficult from the granules. The amount of HPMC plays a dominant role for the drug release. The release mechanism of CBZ from matrix tablet formulations follows non-Fickian diffusion shifting to Case II by the increase of HPMC content, indicating significant contribution of erosion. Increasing in drug loading resulted in acceleration of the drug release and in anomalous controlled-release mechanism due to delayed hydration of the tablets. These results suggest that wet granulation followed by compression could be a suitable method to formulate sustained release CBZ tablets.

Controlled-release carbamazepine granules and tablets comprising lipophilic and hydrophilic matrix components

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of lipophilic (Compritol 888 ATO) and hydrophilic components (combination of HPMC and Avicel) on the release of carbamazepine from granules and corresponding tablet. Wet granulation followed by compression was employed for preparation of granules and tablets. The matrix swelling behavior was investigated. The dissolution profiles of each formulation were compared to those of Tegretol CR tablets and the mean dissolution time (MDT), dissolution efficiency (DE %) and similarity factor (f(2) factor) were calculated. It was found that increase in the concentration of HPMC results in reduction in the release rate from granules and achievement of zero-order is difficult from the granules. The amount of HPMC plays a dominant role for the drug release. The release mechanism of CBZ from matrix tablet formulations follows non-Fickian diffusion shifting to case II by the increase of HPMC content, indicating significant contribution of erosion. Increasing in drug loading resulted in acceleration of the drug release and in anomalous controlled-release mechanism due to delayed hydration of the tablets. These results suggest that wet granulation followed by compression could be a suitable method to formulate sustained release CBZ tablets.

Formulation, release characteristics and bioavailability study of oral monolithic matrix tablets containing carbamazepine

This study examined the release of carbamazepine (CBZ) from hydrophobic (Compritol 888 ATO) and hydrophilic-hydrophobic matrix combination (Compritol 888 ATO-hydroxpropyl methylcellulose, HPMC). Hydrophobic matrix tablets were prepared by hot fusion technique, while hydrophilic-hydrophobic matrix tablets were prepared by wet granulation technique. The properties of the compressed matrix tablets were determined according to the US Pharmacopoeia. Both matrix formulations displayed a controlled-release profile when compared to the reference formulation (Tegretol CR 200). The bioavailability of CBZ formulations and Tegretol CR 200 were evaluated in beagle dogs. Carbamazepine presented a significant higher bioavailability from matrix tablets containing hydrophilic polymer (HPMC) than that obtained from Tegretol CR200. The average inter-subject plasma concentration variability CV% was the least with tablet containing hydrophilic polymer (HPMC) and was the highest with Tegretol CR 200 (33.8 and 54.1, respectively). Analysis of variance applied to log AUC(0-alpha) and log C(max) showed statistical significant differences among the three formulations (P < 0.05). Plotting the fraction of CBZ released in vitro and fraction absorbed showed a statistically significant relationship (R(2) = 0.935-0.975) for the three matrix tablets examined.

Matrices containing NaCMC and HPMC

The aim of the present study is an investigation of the swelling behaviour of matrix systems containing a mixture of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) with a model soluble drug to find the correlation between the morphological behaviour and the drug release performance. The swelling study was conducted on tablets containing only the drug and the two polymers mixture (MB) and on reference tablets containing each polymer and the same drug, at three different pHs. MB matrices show a similar swelling trend at pH 4.5 and 6.8, while they have different behaviour in acidic fluid. At pH 1 the gel layer formed by NaCMC is characterized by a rigid structure of a partially chemically crosslinked hydrogel while HPMC and MB matrices form a physical not crosslinked gel. At pH 4.5 and 6.8, all the systems show the typical morphological behaviour of a swellable matrix in which the macromolecular chains in the gel network are held together by weak bondings (physical gel). In these buffers, MB systems maintain a constant drug release rate coupling diffusion and erosion mechanism: the gel and infiltrated layers thicknesses are maintained constant and a zero-order release kinetics can be achieved.

Drug release from tableted wet granulations comprising cellulosic (HPMC or HPC) and hydrophobic component

The effects of component nature, proportion and processing on the release rate and mechanism were investigated for tablets comprising drug, cellulosic polymer and hydrophobic components. Four drugs differing in solubility (diclofenac sodium, ibuprofen, naproxen and indomethacin), two cellulosic polymers (HPC and HPMC) and hydrophobic Emvelop were used in two levels of mass fraction and weight ratio of drug:carrier and of cellulosic-hydrophobic component. Compression was applied after granulation or physical mixing. Drug release was evaluated in pH 6.5 phosphate buffer BP and elucidation of the release mechanism was attempted by fitting kinetic models. Statistical significance of the effects of formulation variables on the release rate and mechanism expressed by the coefficient, k, and exponent, n, of the power law kinetic model, respectively, was evaluated by ANOVA. It was found that for the release mechanism most significant is the effect of drug solubility followed by cellulosic polymer type, mixing procedure and drug mass fraction. Significant interaction between drug solubility and type of cellulosic polymer indicated that alteration in the swelling of HPMC and HPC is caused by the drug solubility. Weight ratio of cellulosic-hydrophobic component does not affect the release mechanism, but only the release rate. Similarly, for the release rate most significant was found the effect of drug solubility, followed by cellulosic polymer type, weight ratio of cellulosic-hydrophobic component, mixing method and drug mass fraction. Also significant were the interactions of drug solubility with the type and proportion of the cellulosic polymer and the processing applied. Depending on the drug solubility and type of polymer present, wet granulation can increase or decrease the release rate.

Design and evaluation of buccal adhesive hydrocortisone acetate (HCA) tablets

Many studies have shown that topical buccal therapy with steroid anti-inflammatory drugs is useful in controlling ulcerative and inflammatory mucosal diseases. This local treatment is based on the concept that a high activity of steroids can be produced at the site of administration and, at the same time, the degree of systemic side effects can be minimized or avoided. In this study we developed a new formulation consisting of a mucoadhesive tablet formulation for buccal administration of hydrocortisone acetate (HCA). Three types of tablet were developed containing three mucoadhesive components: hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (Methocel K4M), carboxyvinyl polymer (Carbopol 974P), and polycarbophyl (Noveon AA1); the first polymer is a cellulose derivative, the others are both polyacrylic acid derivatives. For each of those, three tablet batches were produced changing the quantity of the mucoadhesive component (10, 20, and 30%), resulting in 9 different formulations. The compatibility of HCA with all excipients using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was assessed. Tablets were manufactured by wet granulation followed by compression. Technological controls on granulates (Hausner index, Carr index, granulometry and Karl-Fischer percentage humidity) and tablets (thickness, diameter, friability, hardness, uniformity of content, weigh uniformity and dissolution kinetic) were carried out. Mucoadhesion properties, ex vivo permeability through porcine buccal mucosa, in vivo behavior and compliance were evaluated. Technological controls have demonstrated that the increase in the (percentage) of mucoadhesive causes an increase in granulometry followed by a reduction in the granulate flowability, however all the tablets have given satisfactory technological results and conformed to the 3rd Ed. European Pharmacopoeia specifications. Mucoadhesion, ex vivo permeability and in vivo behavior results notably differed among tablets, depending on the quality and quantity of the mucoadhesive component. An overall comparison of results showed the tablets containing Carbopol 20% resulted to be the best formulation among those developed.

Studies on controlled release dimenhydrinate from matrix tablet formulations

In this study, controlled release dosage forms of dimenhydrinate were prepared with different polymers as MC, HEC, Carbopol 934, Eudragit RLPM and Eudragit NE 30 D at different concentrations (2.5-10%). Direct compression (DC) and wet granulation (WG) techniques were used to prepare the tablets. Magnesium stearate was the lubricant while starch gel was the binder. For the quality control of tablets prepared according to 11 different formulations, weight deviation, hardness, friability, diameter-height ratio, content uniformity of the active substance and in vitro dissolution techniques were performed. Dissolution rate of these tablets was controlled by USP XXII dissolution method and the profile of each tablet was plotted and only for F 5 was evaluated kinetically.

A programmable drug delivery system for oral administration

A programmable, controlled release drug delivery system has been developed. The device in the form of a non-digestible oral capsule (containing drug in a slowly eroding matrix for controlled release) was designed to utilize an automatically operated geometric obstruction that keeps the device floating in the stomach and prevents it from passing through the remainder of the GIT. Different viscosity grades of hydroxypropyl-methyl-cellulose were employed as model eroding matrices. The duration during which the device could maintain its geometric obstruction (caused by a built-in triggering ballooning system) was dependent on the erosion rates of the incorporated polymers (the capsule in-hosed core matrix). After complete core matrix erosion, the ballooning system is automatically flattened off so that the device retains its normal capsule size to be eliminated by passing through the GIT. In vitro long-term drug delivery from a prototype model was studied using levonorgestril as a model drug. Zero-order release could be maintained for periods ranging between 5 and 20 days before the geometric obstruction is triggered off. The rate of drug release was dependent on the nature, viscosity and ratios of polymer employed.