Formulation and stability studies of metformin hydrochloride in a controlled porosity osmotic pump system

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to formulate, for the first time, metformin hydrochloride (MH, 850 mg/tablet) as a controlledporosity osmotic pump (CPOP) system to achieve zero-order release pattern. MH core tablet was coated with celluloseacetate membrane containing PEG 400. The effect of different percentages and molecular weights of polyethyleneoxide (PEO, 900K and 4M) in tablet core was studied. The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) apparatus II andphosphate buffer pH 6.8 were used for the release studies; meanwhile, a promising formula was tested in biorelevantmedia. The stability of some selected formulations was carried out for 6 months, at bench and accelerated conditions.Evaluation included MH content, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM),drug release, and kinetics. Results revealed that increasing PEO percentage within the core decreased MH release.SEM verified formation of pores in the membrane that accounts for MH release. Almost all stored tablets werestable for all studied parameters. MH endothermic peak maintained its position and energy of enthalpy on storageas confirmed by DSC. MH release rate from a promising formula, following zero-order release model, increased by28% in biorelevant media compared to phosphate buffer. Subsequently, in vitro release in biorelevant media could beemployed as a tool to anticipate in vivo tone of CPOP formulations