Matrix Tablets for Controlled Release of Drugs Incorporated Using Capillary Absorption

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Direct tableting is favored for cost and time efficiency in tablet production.
• A key limitation of direct tableting is content non-uniformity in tablets.
• Surface properties of excipients significantly impact tablet mechanical and chemical characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple and reproducible method for filling blank tablets with a consistent drug dose.
• To address the challenge of content non-uniformity in direct tableting.
• To maintain tablet mechanical properties after drug incorporation.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of blank tablets via direct compression of excipients.
• Filling of blank tablets with an organic solution of hydrochlorothiazide, utilizing capillary rise.
• Characterization of tablet structure, morphology, and in vitro drug release.

Main Results:

• A repeatable drug amount was successfully incorporated into blank tablets.
• Tablet mechanical properties were preserved after drug loading.
• Homogeneous drug distribution was achieved, with drug in pores and on the surface, eliminating content non-uniformity.
• Eliminated segregation of components and ingredient incompatibilities.

Conclusions:

• The developed capillary rise-driven filling method offers a cheap, simple, and reproducible alternative to direct tableting.
• This approach effectively eliminates major disadvantages of direct tableting, such as content inhomogeneity.
• The method shows significant potential for future applications, particularly in personalized therapy.