Matrices of water-soluble drug using natural polymer and direct compression method

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Materials Science
• Drug Delivery

Background:

• Carrageenan is a natural polymer with potential for pharmaceutical applications.
• Direct compression offers an efficient manufacturing method for solid dosage forms.
• Controlling drug release from polymer matrices is crucial for effective therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize Carrageenan matrix formulations for controlled theophylline release.
• To evaluate the impact of Carrageenan concentration and excipients on drug release and physical properties.
• To investigate the influence of dissolution media and apparatus parameters on drug release kinetics.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of theophylline-loaded Carrageenan matrices using direct compression.
• Evaluation of drug release profiles in various dissolution media (water, HCl, phosphate buffer).
• Assessment of dissolution rate under different rotational speeds and apparatus types.

Main Results:

• Increased Carrageenan concentration reduced theophylline release.
• Dissolution media (pH 7.4 phosphate buffer, 0.1 N HCl) enhanced drug release.
• Higher rotational speeds increased drug release by affecting the gel layer integrity.
• Drug release followed a diffusion model up to 90 minutes, then a zero-order model.

Conclusions:

• Carrageenan matrices can be successfully manufactured via direct compression.
• Formulation parameters significantly influence drug release characteristics.
• Carrageenan matrices show potential for developing controlled-release drug delivery systems.