• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.263-272
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• 2011

Tablet dosage forms have been preferred over other formulations for the oral drug administration due to their low manufacturing costs and ease of administrations, especially controlled-release applications. Controlled-release tablets are oral dosage forms from which the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is released over an intended or extended period of time upon ingestion. This may allow a decrease in the dosing frequency and a reduction in peak plasma concentrations and hence improves patient compliance while reducing the risk of undesirable side effects. Conventional singlelayered matrix tablets have been extensively utilized to deliver APIs into the body. However, these conventional single-layered matrix tablets present suboptimal delivery properties, such as non-linear drug delivery profiles which may cause higher side effects. Recently, a multi-layered technology has been developed to overcome or eliminate the limitations of the singlelayered tablet with more flexibility. This technology can give a good opportunity in formulating new products and help pharmaceutical companies enhancing their life cycle management. In this review, a brief overview on the multi-layered tablets is given focusing on the various tablet designs, manufacturing issues and drug release profiles.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.285-289
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• 2010

Manufacturing a multi-layered tablet such as Xatral XL$^{(R)}$ is more complex and expensive than monolayered tablets, but mono-layered tablets may have less favorable release properties depending on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the active ingredient. We therefore sought to develop a monolayer tablet with a similar dissolution profile to the commercial alfuzosin sustained-release triple layered tablet (Xatral XL$^{(R)}$). We prepared four different mono-layered alfuzosin tablets with different concentrations of hydroxypropyl methycellulose and PVP K-90. Fomulation III with alfuzosion/mg-stearate/ HPMC/ PVP K-90 (10/5/110/95 mg/tab) has a similar dissolution rate to Xatral XL$^{(R)}$, with a similarity factor score of 81.4. However, the swelling and erosion rates of the two formulations were different, and NIR analysis showed differences in the mechanisms of drug release. Thus, although formulation III and Xatral XL$^{(R)}$ show similar dissolution rates, the mechanisms of drug release are different.