Factors Influencing the Release of Aminophylline from Tableted Ethylcellulose Microcapsules

Microcapsules containing aminophylline cores in ethylcellulose walls have been prepared and tableted. The mechanical properties and the release characteristics of tablets obtained by direct compression at six different pressures (ranging from 265 to 1060 Kg.cm^-2) were studied. The release rate of the drug from tableted microcapsules increased with the increase of compression force and was higher than from uncompressed microcapsules, indicating that some damage of the polymeric wall occurred during the compression process. Among the various excipients tested as binding and protective agents, paraffined starch (a mixed system appositely set up) gave the best results, producing the slowest drug release rate. No important effect on drug release rate was found by changing the size of the microcapsules.     

Controlled Release Kinetics of Captopril From Tableted Microcapsules

Abstract

Different viscosity grades ethylcellulose coated captopril microcapsules were prepared using temperature induced coacervation method from cyclohexane containing 2% Tween 80. Microcapsules were compressed directly into tablets. In vitro dissolution was carried out in 0.1 N HCl at 37°C using the rotating basket method. Release from tablets of all the batches was extensively prolonged in comparison to the respective microcapsules. The longest time for 70% drug release was shown by microcapsules (55min) and tablets (378 min) of the batch E-2. Release rate constants, correlation, determination and regression coefficients were calculated for the first-order, zero-order and Higuchi's equations. The best fit of release kinetics with the highest correlation and determination coefficients was achieved with the first-order followed by Higuchi's plot.     

Drug Release Properties of the Microcapsules of Adriamycin Hydrochloride with Ethylcellulose Prepared by a Phase Separation Technique

Adriamycin hydrochloride was microencapsulated with ethylcellulose by a phase separation method to develop a prolonged release dosage form. Polyisobutylene (PIB) was used as a coacervation-inducing agent to control the particle size and drug release rate of the resultant microcapsules. With increasing the concentration of PIB (1 to 3 %) the average diameter of the microcapsules decreased, due to the fact that the microcapsules were discreted to a single microcapsule. At low concentration of PIB, the resultant microcapsules were agglomerated, which resulted in increasing the size. The microcapsules prepared with PIB 2 % prolonged desirably the drug release from the microcapsules. A little size effects of the microcapsules on the drug release rate was found for the microcapsules with PIB 2 % and 3 %.     

Drug Release Properties of the Microcapsules of Adriamycin Hydrochloride with Ethylcellulose Prepared by a Phase Separation Technique

Abstract

Adriamycin hydrochloride was microencapsulated with ethylcellulose by a phase separation method to develop a prolonged release dosage form. Polyisobutylene (PIB) was used as a coacervation-inducing agent to control the particle size and drug release rate of the resultant microcapsules. With increasing the concentration of PIB (1 to 3 %) the average diameter of the microcapsules decreased, due to the fact that the microcapsules were discreted to a single microcapsule. At low concentration of PIB, the resultant microcapsules were agglomerated, which resulted in increasing the size. The microcapsules prepared with PIB 2 % prolonged desirably the drug release from the microcapsules. A little size effects of the microcapsules on the drug release rate was found for the microcapsules with PIB 2 % and 3 %.     

Some Factors Influencing the Release of Drdg from Nondisintegrating Slow Release Tablets

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate some factors that control the drug release from non disintegrating cylindrical slow release tablets using sodium salicylate as a model drug. The in vitro release of sodium salicylate was described adequately by a previously published cubic equation. It was found that the release of the drug from a nondisintegrating tablet is controlled by the factors such as porosity (e) of the tablet and the mass of drug present (A) per unit tablet volume. On the other hand, pH of the dissolution fluid had no influence on the release of sodium salicylate.     

The Kinetics of Drug Release from Ethylcellulose Solid Dispersions

Abstract

Sulphadiazine - ethylcellulose (EC) solid dispersions with different drug: carrier ratios were prepared and fractionated. In vitro drug release followed an apparent zero-order kinetics rate constant being dependent on the thickness of the coat which was the rate controlling step in the process. Drug release was found to increase as the granule size was decreased. The amount of drug released was found to be pH dependent thus showing the existence of pores in the coat surrounding the drug particles. Inclusion of polyethylene glycol or sodium lauryl sulphate in the coat material or dissolution medium resulted in increased dissolution, an effect which was attributed to increase in porosity, reduction of interfacial tension and increase in wettability which was associated with the presence of these compounds.     

Mechanisms of Drug Release from Matrices Prepared with Aqueous Dispersion of Ethylcellulose

The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism of acetaminophen (APAP) release from tablets prepared by the wet granulation method using an aqueous polymeric dispersion (Surelease) as a granulating agent. Tablets compressed from granules containing 10% w/w acetaminophen and 13.44% w/w total solids from Surelease released only 52.4% w/w drug after 120 min of dissolution testing, while controlled tablets without Surelease released 94.1% w/w drug. In order to prepare control tablets of 6.8 Kp hardness value, the upper compressional force recorded was 15.87 kN while tablets containing 13.44% w/w of total solids from Surelease had a recorded force of 6.28 kN. The drug release from tablets prepared with Surelease as a granulating liquid followed the diffusion-controlled model for an inert porous matrix     

Effects of Surfactant on Release Characteristics of Clonidine Hydrochloride from Ethylcellulose Film

The effects of Tween 80 (polysorbate 80) and Span 80 (sorbitan monooleate) surfactants on release characteristics of clonidine hydrochloride from ethylcellulose 10 and 20 cps matrix films containing castor oil as a plasticizer were investigated. The release rates of drug from these films in water at 37°C were found to increase with the addition of surfactant, which was highest for the film prepared from ethylcellulose 20 cps with Tween 80. The experimental values of the cumulative amount of drug released were found to conform to the solution matrix model. The calculated values of the cumulative amount of clonidine hydrochloride released using the experimentally determined diffusion coefficients were also found to be in good agreement with the observed values.     

Direct Compression Controlled Release Tablets Using Ethylcellulose Matrices

Controlled release erodible matrix tablets were manufactured by a simple, direct compression process using ethylcellulose alone as the matrix former. Each of four different viscosity grades of ethylcellulose (10, 20, 45 and 100 cp) was dry mixed with either indomethacin or theophylline and a small amount of lubricant, then directly compressed into tablets. In initial trials, compression force was held constant, resulting in tablets of varying hardness. In a second study, the compression force was varied to produce tablets of equal hardness. Lower viscosity grades of ethylcellulose were more compressible than higher viscosity grades, allowing production of harder tablets for a given drug. Harder tablets resulted in controlled release of the drug over a longer time period. Dissolution studies indicated that tablet hardness is more important in determining dissolution rate than is the polymer viscosity grade. A mathematical model combining diffusion and erosion mechanisms was developed to describe drug release. Improved r² values over pure diffusion, erosion and diffusion/relaxation models were obtained. Examination of residuals indicated that the derived composite model was more appropriate for the data     

Natural Polymer Hydrophilic Matrix: Influencing Drug Release Factors

In porous hydrophilic polymeric systems, two phenomena control the release of drugs: the water uptake and polymer swelling.

Directly compressed hydrophilic matrices were prepared with scleroglucan as gelling agent. A principal components analysis enables the authors to study the correlation between the above phenomena and the dissolution behavior in order to interpret the effect of polymer concentration, excipient solubility and compression force on the drug release.     

Natural Polymer Hydrophilic Matrix: Influencing Drug Release Factors

In porous hydrophilic polymeric systems, two phenomena control the release of drugs: the water uptake and polymer swelling.

Directly compressed hydrophilic matrices were prepared with scleroglucan as gelling agent. A principal components analysis enables the authors to study the correlation between the above phenomena and the dissolution behavior in order to interpret the effect of polymer concentration, excipient solubility and compression force on the drug release.     

Controlled Nifedipine Release from Microcapsules of its Dispersions in PVP-MCC and HPC-MCC

Nifedipine and its solid dispersions in polyvinyl-pyrrolidone-microcrystalline cellulose (PVP-MCC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose - microcrystalline cellulose (HPC-MCC) were microencapsulated with cellulose acetate by an emulsion solvent evaporation method. The microcapsules are spherical, discrete and free flowing. Nifedipine as such and its microcapsules gave very slow release because of its highly crystalline nature and poor solubility. Solid dispersion in PVP-MCC and HPC-MCC gave fast and rapid dissolution of nifedipine. When these solid dispersions were microencapsulated, a slow, controlled and complete release over a period of 12 hours was observed from the resulting microcapsules. Drug release depended on the proportion of PVP-MCC and HPC-MCC in the solid dispersions used as core, coat: core ratio and size of the microcapsules and the release was pH independent. Drug release was governed by diffusion rate and followed first-order kinetics.     

Clofibrate Microcapsules: III. Mechanism of Release

Abstract

The mechanism of release of clofibrate from microcapsules prepared in a gelatin-sodium sulfate system has been investigated. A theoretical model was developed to explain the release pattern of the drug from the microcapsules. It was shown that the release of the drug followed four stages giving individual zero-order profiles. The overall release from the thin-walled microcapsules showed greater deviation from the zero-order kinetics but followed the square-root of the time plots. Microcapsules having thicker walla approximated overall zero-order release but deviated from the square-root of time plots. The effect of hardening on the release profiles and possible explanations for the differences observed in the release of clofibrate from the thin-walled and thick-walled microcapsules are discussed.     

Clofibrate Microcapsules: III. Mechanism of Release

The mechanism of release of clofibrate from microcapsules prepared in a gelatin-sodium sulfate system has been investigated. A theoretical model was developed to explain the release pattern of the drug from the microcapsules. It was shown that the release of the drug followed four stages giving individual zero-order profiles. The overall release from the thin-walled microcapsules showed greater deviation from the zero-order kinetics but followed the square-root of the time plots. Microcapsules having thicker walla approximated overall zero-order release but deviated from the square-root of time plots. The effect of hardening on the release profiles and possible explanations for the differences observed in the release of clofibrate from the thin-walled and thick-walled microcapsules are discussed.     

Drug Release Kinetics from Tablet Matrices Based Upon Ethylcellulose Ether-Derivatives: A Comparison Between Different Formulations

ABSTRACT

The present study involved the preparation of ibuprofen-containing controlled release tablets formulated from either the established granular product, Ethocel®Standard Premium, or the novel finely-milled product, Ethocel®Standard FP Premium. The tablets were prepared by either direct compression or wet granulation. The aim was to explore the influence of different parameters on the kinetics and mechanisms of ibuprofen release from the tablets. These parameters were; polymer particle size, polymer molecular weight, drug : polymer ratio, preparation methodology and partial replacement of lactose with the coexcipient—hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). The derived drug release data were analyzed with reference to various established mathematical models while the f₂-metric technique was used in order to determine profile equivalency. It was found that drug release was mostly modulated by several interactive factors apparently exhibiting crosstalk. Nevertheless, it was possible to identify some simple rules. Incorporation of Ethocel® FP polymers and application of the wet granulation technique facilitated greater efficiency in controlling ibuprofen release behavior from the matrices. Furthermore, drug release profiles could be modulated by partial substitution of the primary excipient with HPMC. Polymer concentrations and particle sizes, rather than viscosity grade, were found to be decisive factors in controlling drug release rates.     

Some Factors Affecting the Release of Drug from Membrane Coated Slow Release Tablets

Tablets containing sodium salicylate were prepared by direct compression and coated with ethylcellulose and polyethylene glycol 3350. The effect of drug loading, direct compression carrier type, polymer ratio in the coating solution, pH of the dissolution medium, and agitation speed on the drug release were investigated using the USP XXI paddle method. It was observed that direct compression carriers, ratio of ethyl cellulose to polyethylene glycol, the amount of drug present in the tablet, and agitation speed used did not have any influence on the drug release from coated tablets, while the pH of the dissolution medium (gastric vs. intestinal fluids) was found to affect the drug release.     

The Effect of Curing on Drug Release and Morphological Properties of Ethylcellulose Pseudolatex-Coated Beads

Drug-containing nonpareil beads were coated in a fluidized bed with a commercial ethylcellulose pseudolatex, Aquacoat. The drug release was investigated as a function of curing conditions (curing time and temperature) for a hydrophilic and lipophilic drug (chlorpheniramine maleate and ibuprofen) at different levels of plasticizer (triethyl citrate). Curing of coated beads at elevated temperatures immediately after the coating process significantly changed the drug release pattern. Both a retardation and an enhancement in drug release were seen, with the extent being dependent on the type of drug and curing conditions. With chlorpheniramine maleate, a drug with low affinity for the ethylcellulose coating, a curing step was necessary at intermediate plasticizer levels to obtain good film formation and a limiting drug release pattern, while the use of higher plasticizer levels eliminated the need for a curing step. With ibuprofen, a lipophilic drug with high solubility in the ethylcellulose coating, drug crystals were apparent on the bead surface after curing. Curing of ibuprofen beads as a function of time initially decreased but then substantially increased the drug release as a result of drug diffusion across the ethylcellulose membrane with subsequent crystallization on the bead surface. An intermediate seal coat reduced the diffusion of the drug into the ethylcellulose coating.     

The Effect of Curing on Drug Release and Morphological Properties of Ethylcellulose Pseudolatex-Coated Beads

Abstract

Drug-containing nonpareil beads were coated in a fluidized bed with a commercial ethylcellulose pseudolatex, Aquacoat. The drug release was investigated as a function of curing conditions (curing time and temperature) for a hydrophilic and lipophilic drug (chlorpheniramine maleate and ibuprofen) at different levels of plasticizer (triethyl citrate). Curing of coated beads at elevated temperatures immediately after the coating process significantly changed the drug release pattern. Both a retardation and an enhancement in drug release were seen, with the extent being dependent on the type of drug and curing conditions. With chlorpheniramine maleate, a drug with low affinity for the ethylcellulose coating, a curing step was necessary at intermediate plasticizer levels to obtain good film formation and a limiting drug release pattern, while the use of higher plasticizer levels eliminated the need for a curing step. With ibuprofen, a lipophilic drug with high solubility in the ethylcellulose coating, drug crystals were apparent on the bead surface after curing. Curing of ibuprofen beads as a function of time initially decreased but then substantially increased the drug release as a result of drug diffusion across the ethylcellulose membrane with subsequent crystallization on the bead surface. An intermediate seal coat reduced the diffusion of the drug into the ethylcellulose coating.