Abstract

FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF PULSATILE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM OF ATENOLOL

Simran Adhikari*, Rajendra Ayer and Sanjeeta Mahat

Abstract

The main purpose of present investigation was to formulate and evaluate a pulsatile drug delivery system of drug Atenolol to achieve it’s time specific release. Pulsatile Drug Delivery System (PDDS) deliver the drug at the right time, at right site of action and in right amount which provides more benefits than conventional dosage forms consequently increasing patient compliance. These systems are designed according to circadian rhythms of the body and the drug is released rapidly and completely as a pulse after lag time. Firstly, Fast disintegrating core tablet of Atenolol was prepared by direct compression technique using Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC), Sodium Starch Glycollate (SSG), Lactose, Talc and Magnesium stearate. Then core tablet was coated with mixture of Ethyl Cellulose (EC), a hydrophobic polymer and Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC), a hydrophilic polymer by press coating technique. Mixtures of different weight ratio of Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC K4M) and Ethyl Cellulose (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100) were pressed coated over Atenolol core tablets to release Atenolol after a desired lag time of 6 hours. Pre-compression parameters and post-compression parameters of formulated tablets were evaluated. Among different formulation prepared by using different weight ratios of Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC K4M) and Ethyl Cellulose the optimum result was achieved in formulation containing 50:50 weight ratios. This is applicable formulation for pulsatile drug delivery of Atenolol in hypertension. Thus Pulsatile drug delivery system of Atenolol and other drugs can be developed using equal mixture of Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose and Ethyl Cellulose.

Keywords: Pulsatile drug delivery system, Atenolol, Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, Ethyl cellulose, Core tablet and Press coating technique.