Effect of Solvents on Physical Properties and Release Characteristics of Monolithic Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose Matrix Granules and Tablets

Effect of solvents on physical characteristics and release characteristics of monolithic acetaminophen (APAP) hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) matrix granules and tablets were examined. Various types and amounts of solvents were employed for granulation and coating. APAP and other excipients were mixed and were then wet-granulated in a high-speed mixer. The dried granules were then directly compressed and film-coated with low viscosity grade HPMC. As the amount of water increased, the size of granules also increased, showing more spherical and regular shape. However, manufacturing problems such as capping and lamination in tableting occurred when water was used alone as a granulating solvent. The physical properties of HPMC matrix granules were not affected by the batch size. The initial release rate as well as the amount of APAP dissolved had a tendency to decrease as the water level increased. Addition of nonaqueous solvent like ethanol to water resulted in good physical properties of granules. When compared to water/ethanol as a coating solvent, the release rate of film-coated HPMC matrix tablets was more sensitive to the conditions of coating and drying in methylene chloride/ethanol. Most of all, monolithic HPMC matrix tablet when granulated in ethanol/water showed dual release with about $50\%$ drug release immediately within few minutes followed by extended release. It was evident that the type and amount of solvents (mainly water and ethanol) were very important for wet granulation and film-coating of monolithic HPMC matrix tablet, because the plastic deforming and fragmenting properties of material were changed by the different strengths of the different solvents.