Preparation of indapamide slow-release pellets

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Materials Science

Background:

• Developing controlled-release drug formulations is crucial for improving therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance.
• Indapamide, a diuretic, requires precise dosage control to manage hypertension and edema effectively.
• Eudragit RS100 is a widely used polymer for creating sustained-release drug delivery systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a slow-release indapamide formulation using Eudragit RS100 coated pellets.
• To optimize pellet preparation by evaluating the impact of agglomerants and coating levels.
• To assess the drug release kinetics and stability of the developed formulation.

Main Methods:

• Pellet preparation involving selection of agglomerants and coating with Eudragit RS100.
• Optimization based on pellet recovery through an 18- to 24-mesh sieve.
• In vitro drug release studies over 24 hours.
• Dissolution kinetics analysis using the Higuchi model.
• Stability testing of drug pellets.

Main Results:

• The study identified optimal agglomerants and Eudragit RS100 coating levels for pellet preparation.
• Maximized pellet recovery and a satisfactory 24-hour drug release profile were achieved.
• Dissolution data consistently followed the Higuchi kinetics model.
• Stability tests confirmed no significant changes in drug release rate, content, or related substances.

Conclusions:

• A stable, slow-release indapamide formulation was successfully developed using Eudragit RS100 coated pellets.
• The formulation demonstrated predictable drug release kinetics consistent with the Higuchi model.
• The optimized formulation holds promise for effective and sustained delivery of indapamide.