Controlled release of nifedipine from mucoadhesive tablets of its inclusion complexes with beta-cyclodextrin

Mucoadhesive tablets formulated with nifedipine (N) alone and its inclusion complexes with beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD) and the mucoadhesive polymers sodium carboxy methylcellulose and carbopol were investigated with a view to the design of oral controlled release tablets of nifedipine. As nifedipine is practically insoluble in water and aqueous fluids, its complexation with betaCD was investigated to improve its solubility and dissolution rate. Complexation of nifedipine with betaCD has markedly enhanced the solubility and dissolution rate of nifedipine. The phase solubility studies indicated the formation of a N-betaCD inclusion complex with a stability constant of 121.9 M(-1). A 20.6 fold increase in the dissolution rate of nifedipine was observed with N-betaCD (1:2) solid inclusion complex. Mucoadhesive tablets formulated employing nifedipine alone gave very low dissolution, whereas those formulated employing its betaCD inclusion complexes gave slow, controlled and complete release spread over a period of 12 h. Drug release from these tablets followed zero order kinetics up to 85-90% release and the release was diffusion controlled. Good controlled release two layered tablet formulations of nifedipine, satisfying the theoretical sustained release requirements based on its pharmacokinetics, were developed using its inclusion complexes with betaCD.