Drug release kinetics from tablet matrices based upon ethylcellulose ether-derivatives: a comparison between...

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Materials Science

Background:

• Controlled release drug delivery systems are crucial for optimizing therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance.
• Ethocel polymers, including granular and finely-milled forms, are utilized in pharmaceutical formulations for drug release modulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of polymer characteristics and formulation parameters on ibuprofen release kinetics.
• To evaluate the influence of polymer particle size, molecular weight, drug:polymer ratio, and preparation method on drug release mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of ibuprofen tablets using Ethocel Standard Premium (granular) and Ethocel Standard FP Premium (finely-milled).
• Formulation by direct compression and wet granulation methods.
• Analysis of drug release data using mathematical models and the f2-metric for profile equivalency.

Main Results:

• Drug release was influenced by interactive factors, with Ethocel FP polymers and wet granulation enhancing release control.
• Partial substitution of lactose with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) modulated drug release profiles.
• Polymer concentration and particle size were key determinants of drug release rates, more so than viscosity grade.

Conclusions:

• Optimized ibuprofen controlled-release tablets can be achieved through careful selection of Ethocel polymer type and formulation techniques.
• Wet granulation and the use of finely-milled Ethocel FP polymers offer superior control over ibuprofen release.
• The study provides valuable data for designing advanced drug delivery systems with tailored release characteristics.