Formulation and evaluation of once daily minocycline hydrochloride extended release matrix tablets

The present study was aimed to develop once daily extended release matrix tablets of minocycline hydrochloride, using hydroxypropylmethylcellulose either alone or in combination with ethyl cellulose as the matrix material in different proportions. The formulated tablets were also compared with a marketed product. The results of the dissolution study indicate that formulations FC-IV, FC-V and FC-VI showed maximum drug release upto 24 h, whereas the marketed product was found to extend the release only up to 14 h. Incase of formulations containing combination of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and ethyl cellulose (FC-I to FC-IX), the release of the drug was found to be dependent on the relative proportions of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and ethyl cellulose used in the tablet matrix. Mathematical treatment of the in vitro drug release data suggests that, all the formulations best fitted into first order release kinetics. Drug release from the matrix occurred by combination of two mechanisms, diffusion of drug from tablet matrix and erosion of tablet surface, which was reflected from Higuchi's model and Erosion plot.