effect of particle size and concentration of polycarbophil on its physical properties and the pharmaceutical characteristics of prepared indomethacin tablets

ABSTRACT

The effect of varying the concentration of polycarbophil and particle size on its physical characteristics viz swelling, flowability and compressibility was investigated. The effect of using polycarbophil, in different concentrations of varying particle sizes, on the characteristics of indomethacin tablets prepared by direct compression was also studied. The swelling of polycarbophil increased as its particle size increased from <0.063 to 1 mm. The particles having particle size range 0.5-0.8, 0.8-1.0 and >1 mm showed excellent flowability. The amount of indomethacin released was found to decrease as the polycarbophil concentration and the particle size increase. The effect of polycarbophil particle size on the dissolution of indomethacin was more pronounced at 5% concentration. 20% polycarbophil, of particle size 0.18-0.8 mm, could be a useful additive in tablet formulation as disintegrant to its bioadhesive character