Formulation development and optimization of bilayer tablets of aceclofenac

The objective of the present study was to develop bilayer tablets of aceclofenac that are characterized by initial burst drug release followed by sustained release of drug.

The fast-release layer of the bilayer tablet was formulated using microcrystaline cellulose (MCC) and HPMC K4M. The amount of HPMC E4M (X(1)) and MCC (X(2)) was used as independent variables for optimization of sustained release formulation applying 3(2) factorial design. Three dependent variables were considered: percentage of aceclofenac release at 1 h, percentage of aceclofenac release at 12 h, and time to release 50% of drug (t(50%)). The composition of optimum formulation of sustained release tablets were employed to formulate double layer tablets.

The results indicate that X(1) and X(2) significantly affected the release properties of aceclofenac from sustained release formulation. The double layer tablets containing fast-release layer showed an initial burst drug release of more than 30% of its drug content during first 1 h followed by sustained release of the drug for a period of 24 h.

The double layer tablets for aceclofenac can be successfully employed as once-a-day oral-controlled release drug delivery system characterized by initial burst release of aceclofenac for providing the loading dose of drug.