Development and evaluation of dapsone tablets coated for specific colon release

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Materials Science

Background:

• Biodegradable polysaccharides are explored for colon-specific drug release systems.
• Modulating drug release into the colon is crucial for targeted therapy.
• Dapsone tablets were developed with a novel coating for colonic delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize dapsone tablets coated with Surelease® and chondroitin sulfate (SC) for modulated colonic release.
• To investigate the impact of coating composition and thickness on drug release kinetics.
• To optimize the formulation for targeted drug delivery to the colon.

Main Methods:

• Tablets were formulated using wet granulation and coated with varying Surelease® and SC proportions.
• Coated tablets underwent pharmacopeial assessments for weight, hardness, and friability.
• Dissolution testing was performed in simulated gastrointestinal fluids over 420 minutes, analyzed by factorial design.

Main Results:

• Coated tablets met pharmacopeial specifications for physical characteristics.
• Surelease® provided effective drug protection, with minimal release at 6-10% weight gain.
• Increased SC proportion (10%) and lower weight gain (6%) significantly enhanced dapsone release (9.5%).

Conclusions:

• Coating thickness and polysaccharide proportion are critical for controlling drug release.
• The developed system demonstrates potential for targeted colonic drug delivery.
• Optimized Surelease® and SC ratios can modulate dapsone release profiles.