Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF PRESS COATED TABLETS OF ESOMEPRAZOLE

Naseeb Basha Shaik*, Gundogiwar Pooja Rani, Latha Kukati and Pallavi Kanagala

Abstract

The objective of the present study is to prepare and evaluate press coated tablets of esomeprazole by using press coating technique. Esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate is a proton pump inhibitor, degrades in acidic environment, hence protection of drug is done by coating the drug with retardant coating polymers. Presscoated tablets contains two layers esomeprazole core tablets prepared by direct compression and core tablets were coated by using different weight ratios and combinations of hydrophobilc polymer like ethyl cellulose and hydrophilic polymers such as HPMC E15 and HPMC K4M as a coating layer. Among the various formulations, F5 formulation containing ethyl cellulose: HPMC E15 (10:90) and F9 formulation containing ethyl cellulose: HPMC K4M (20:80) were optimized based on their better drug release within 8 hrs. The optimized formulation complied with the ICH stability testing guidelines, it showed that the formulations were stable. Based on the results, the developed esomeprazole press coated tablets delivered the drug in the intestine and protected the drug from degradation in acid media.

Keywords: Esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate, retardant materials, press coating & direct compression.