Abstract

FORMULATION OF SUSTAINED RELEASE STAVUDINE MATRIX TABLETS THROUGH OPTIMIZATION AND THEIR EVALUATION

Masheer Ahmed Khan*

Abstract

The object of the present study was to develop once daily sustained release matrix tablets of Stavudine a thymidine analog approved for the treatment of HIV infection. Stavudine has a short half life of 1 to 1.6hrs and 40mg twice daily dose. Converting twice daily regimen of stavudine into once daily improves adherence and, therefore, enhances the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy. Matrix tablets which is the least complicated approach is used to device sustained release of the drug candidate. Different grades of polymers HPMC viz HPMCK4M and HPMCK15M were selected to sustain the release of the drug up to 12 hrs. Optimization techniques using factorial design for two factors at three levels (32 ) was selected to optimize varied response variables viz. release rate exponent (n), k, amount of drug released in 12h (Rel12h) and mean dissolution time MDT. The optimum formulation was selected and the results obtained with the experimental values were compared with the predicted values. In conclusion, the results suggest that the developed sustained-release matrix tablets could provide quite regulated release of stavudine over an extended period of time.

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