ABSTRACT
The aim of the present investigation is to obtain a programmed drug delivery from a novel system containing a fast release and prolonged release tablet [PRT] placed into a capsule to achieve the biphasic release pattern of lornoxicam. Fast release tablets [FRT] with 3.25 mg were prepared with different diluents and varying concentrations of disintegrant and binders. Hydrogenated castor oil and hydrogenated vegetable oil are used to modulate drug release for the development of PRT with a 12.25 mg dose calculated as a zero-order principle. The compressed tablets were evaluated for various physicochemical parameters like hardness, friability, drug content uniformity, weight variation and in-vitro drug release studies. The optimized FRT and PRT tablets were placed in the size 2 capsule to attain biphasic release in which the immediate rapid release was obtained by the FRT followed by slow release from the PRT for 24 hours. The optimized 'tablet in capsule' [TCHV] [containing 3%w/w of HVO] followed first-order release with a Non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. FT-IR studies revealed no interaction between the drug and polymers. There were no marketed dosage forms of lornoxicam with biphasic release; hence, the present study indicated the applicability of the 'tablets in capsule' technique in the design of biphasic release systems of lornoxicam