Controlled Release of Tamsulosin from Enteric Coated Sustained-Release Matrices with Aqueous Microchannels

Tamsulosin has been frequently used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. To avoid dose-dependent side effects of tamsulosin upon oral administration, the development of sustained-release delivery system is required, that can maintain therapeutic drug levels for a longer period of time. The aim of this study was therefore to formulate sustained-release tamsulosin matrix tablets and assess their formulation variables. We designed enteric coated sustained-release tamsulosin matrices to fulfill above statement. Aqueous microchannels in the enteric film need to be formed in order to obtain tamsulosin release even in an acidic environment such as gastric region. In the sustained-release tamsulosin matrix, low viscosity hydroxypropylmethylcellulose was used as a rate controller. Povidone K30 was also added to the matrices to facilitate water uptake so that a decrease in the release rate of tamsulosin as time elapses was prevented, possibly leading to pseudo zero-order release of the drug. The matrices were enteric-coated with hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP), along with povidone K30 as an aqueous microchannel former. With the aqueous microchannels formed within the enteric film, tamsulosin could be released in an acidic condition. The release of tamsulosin decreased with increasing thickness of HPMCP membrane while the release rates of tamsulosin from those having different HPMCP thickness in pH 7.2 aqueous media were not considerably different, indicating that the enteric film was promptly dissolved at pH 7.2. These results clearly suggest that the sustained-release oral delivery system for tamsulosin could be designed with satisfying drug release profile approved by the KFDA.

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