Thermal treating as a tool to produce plastic pellets based on Eudragit RS PO and RL PO aimed for tableting

A 3(2) full-factorial design was used for preparation of pellets using extrusion-spheronization technique. Independent variables were %ibuprofen (40, 60, 80) and %Eudragit RS PO/RL PO (0, 50, 100). In all formulations 3% w/w PVP K30 and 10% Avicel PH101 were also used. The pellets were cured in oven at 60 degrees C for 24h. The evaluated responses were crushing strength or yield point, elastic modulus and mean dissolution time (MDT) of pellets. The cured pellets were also compressed at 15kN compaction force and then observed under scanning electron microscope. It was shown that the cured pellets containing 40% or 60% drug exhibited a plastic deformation without any fracture under mechanical tests. The curing process resulted in significant decrease in the elastic modulus of the pellets. The SEM of the compressed pellets were also confirmed the plastic behavior of these pellets. The transition of pellet behavior from brittle to plastic upon curing was due to shift of Eudragit structure from glassy to rubbery state which was supported by DSC studies. However pellets with 80% drug showed brittle properties even after curing due to presence of less amount of Eudragit in their structure. Increasing the ratio of Eudragit RS in the pellets decreased the yield point and elastic modulus of cured pellets containing 40% or 60% drug, indicating more plastic behavior of these pellets. This was attributed to lower Tg of Eudragit RS than Eudragit RL. The curing process also retarded drug release from pellets and increased MDT. Increasing the ratio of Eudragit RS in the pellets increased MDT in cured pellets containing 40% or 60% drug but had no effect in pellets with 80% drug. Overall the results of this study revealed that thermal treating is a proper tool to produce plastic ibuprofen pellets based on Eudragit RS PO and Eudragit RL PO.