Rosin and rosin derivatives as hydrophobic matrix materials for controlled release of drugs

The evaluation of rosin, a rosin hard paraffin adduct, and four rosin esters as hydrophobic matrix materials for the controlled release of drugs is reported, using aspirin as a drug model. Aspirin matrix tablets were prepared using a wet granulation (nonaqueous) method, and were evaluated for various pharmaceutical parameters. Dissolution studies in pH 7.2 phosphate buffer showed that all formulations had hardness greater than 6 kg/cm2 and disintegration time greater than 150 min. Release of aspirin from the formulations obeyed a diffusion controlled first order kinetic and linear to the square root of time function. Two of the resin ester formulations had a T80% of more than 4 hr. The results suggest that these esters may find application in the development of sustained release formulations for the local treatment of dental diseases, or--as tablet matrices suitably coated with acid resistant material--in the development of oral sustained release drug delivery systems.