ABSTRACT
A new approach to developing a drug-polymer mixed coat for highly water-soluble diltiazem pellets was investigated at different coating levels. Drug layering and the coating procedures were performed using a bottom spray fluidized bed coater. Drug pellets were coated with Eudragit NE40 (NE40) alone and in combination with diltiazem and hydrophilic cellulose derivatives. Dissolution studies revealed that incorporation of hydrophilic substances such as methylcellulose (MC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and the drug itself considerably increased the release rates. The release from mixed polymer coatings was fast compared to pellets coated with NE40 only. The major portion of the drug was released in about 2 hours in case of MC and NE40 mixed coat compared to hours from coated pellets containing HPMC or diltiazem. Incorporation of 15% to 25% drug with respect to the polymer coat helped to achieve a drug-release profile at a desirable rate over a 12 hour period. Moreover, the test formulation comprising 25% diltiazem with respect to 7% NE40 had a dissolution profile that matched the commercial product, Herbesser SR capsules. The release of diltiazem from the coated pellets was slightly affected by the pH of dissolution media.
Subject(s)
Delayed-Action Preparations/chemistry , Pharmaceutical Preparations/administration & dosage , Pharmaceutical Preparations/chemistry , Algorithms , Data Interpretation, Statistical , Diltiazem/administration & dosage , Diltiazem/chemistry , Drug Compounding , Drug Storage , Excipients , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Hypromellose Derivatives , Methylcellulose/analogs & derivatives , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Polymers , SolubilityABSTRACT
The present study was conducted to examine the physicochemical changes during passage of drug through polymeric membranes and observe the surface morphology features of the coated pellets using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Drug solution was first sprayed around inert pellets to form drug-layered pellets that were coated with two commercial aqueous dispersions namely, Eudragit NE30 and Kollicoat SR30 using bottom-spray fluidized bed technique. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed that no interactions existed between drug and polymers. Small peak of drug was observed in the DSC thermograms of Eudragit NE30 coated pellets indicating that small amount of drug was still present in the polymeric membrane after dissolution. Views of SEM revealed as the coating levels of two types of aqueous dispersions were increased the surface of the pellets become more uniform and compact. Therefore, the diffusion length for dissolution medium to enter the drug layer and dissolved drug to diffuse out would be increased at higher coating levels. The polymer surface of coated pellets after 12 hours dissolution testing seemed to be shrunk and size of the pellets were also reduced indicating the depletion of reservoir layer.
