• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 1996

Laminated films composed of drug-containing reservoir layer and drug-free membrane were prepared. Zero-order drug release with lag time was achieved by laminating drug-free film onto the reservoir layer, while burst effect was observed on cast-on film. The rate controlling membrane was either attached to or cast directly into the reservoir. The release rate was independent on the reservoir composition but dependent on the composition of rate-controlling membrane. In growth inhibitory test of cephalexin from Eudragit RS film to Streptococcus Mutans, the disk even after release test for 72 hours showed more bacterial growth inhibition than that of control. Permeation of drug through rat skin was proportional to the HPC fraction in the film. We could control the release of cephalexin from the film by changing the fraction of Eudragit RS, HPC and DEP content. Consequently, Eudragit RS/HPC film was found to be very effective system for local delivery of drugs.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.207-211
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• 2000

The objective of this work is to investigate the effect of molecular weight of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and release medium on the release of nifedipine (NP) from PEO tablets containing NP and to get some mechanistic insights into the release of NP. The tablets containing NP were prepared by direct compression, using a flat-faced punch and die. The molecular weights of PEOs used were 200K, 900K, 2000K and 7,000K. The release kinetics were studied for 24 hours in aqueous ethanol solution, using a dissolution tester at $36.5^{\circ}C$ and 100 rpm. Drug release rate increased, as the concentration of ethanol in the dissolution medium increased, due to the increased solubility of NP. As the molecular weight of PEO increased, release rate decreased, due to the slower swelling and dissolution of PEO. The power values obtained by fitting data to the power law expression $(M_t/M_{\infty}=kt^n)$ indicated that, at low ethanol concentration, the release of NP is governed by anomalous diffusion. However, as the ethanol concentration increases, diffusional release becomes to prevail over anomalous or zero-order release. Overall, these results provided some insights into the release of NP from PEO tablet.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 1999

In this study small glass columns with 2.5cm inner diameter and 24.5cm length were used as many as the sample numbers to study the effects of initial pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, and sediment depth on the release of phosphorus from lake sediment. No phosphorus release occurred at $10^{\circ}C$ with all pHs, and release rate at $25^{\circ}C$ was higher than that at $35^{\circ}C$ with pH 4 and reverse trends were observed at pH 7 and 10. Under all conditions, DO concentrations were decreased and equilibrium was obtained after 4-8 days when phosphorus release started and the Do concentrations were less than 1 mg/l. Sediment depth had little effect on phosphorus release rate. It was found that relation between released SRP(Soluble Reactive Phosphorus) concentration and time was zero order reaction and reaction rate coefficients were obtained. The amount of phosphorus release from lake sediment can be predicted by considering these k values.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.471-475
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• 2004

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.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.9-18
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• 1993

Sugar spheres loaded with melatonin (MT) were coated with $Aquacoat^{\circledR}$ to control the release rate of MT over 8 hours. A zero-order release pattern over 8 hours was obtained with 20% coating on 8-10 mesh beads in USP basket dissolution studies. MT in 20% coated beads was quite stable at room temperature with less than 5% MT degraded during 6 months' storage. Dissolution profiles were also unchanged after 6 months. An oral preparation containing MT-loaded uncoated beads for immediate release and 20% coated beads with $Aquacoat^{\circledR}$ for controlled release over 8 hours was evaluated in six human subjects. When total 0.5 mg MT as low dose (immediate release portion of MT, 0.1 mg) was administered to four subjects, average peak plasma MT concentration was reached at about 600 pg/ml and maintained at about 10 pg/ml over 8 hours. Plasma MT concentration-time profiles were similar in shape to computer-simulated profiles. However, maximal plasma MT concentrations were three times greater compared to computer simulated curve. These results suggest that MT dose, ratio of immediate and controlled release MT, and pharmacokinetic parameters selected are adjusted to mimic endogenous MT concentration-time curve. In another study, 0.2 mg MT having 10% of immediate release portion and 80% controlled release portion produced plasma MT concentration-time curve which is more similar to endogenous profiles. A low bioavailability (<20%) may result from extensive first pass metabolism and remaining amounts of MT from controlled beads. A good correlation between plasma MT concentration and urinary excretion rate of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (6-STMT), a major metabolite of MT was observed. As plasma MT concentration increased, urinary excretion rate of 6-STMT increased concomitantly. The linear relation between plasma MT and urinary excretion rate of 6-STMT was statistically significant. This result suggests that urinary 6-STMT may be used as an index of circadian rhythms of MT in humans.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 1992

A novel oral controlled release tablet which may offer more uniform drug level in the body than simple zero-order was developed. The tablet is composed of three layers; outer film layer, middle part compression-coated hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) matrix layer, and inner core layer. Each layer contains nicardipine HCl as a model drug. In vitro dissolution test showed that the tablet released the drug in clear three steps; a rapid initial release, followed by a constant rate of release, and then a second phase of fast release of drug. The dissolution characteristics could be modified easily by changing the grade of HPMC, thickness of matrix layer, content of methylcellulose in matrix layer, content of active ingredient in each layer. The pH of dissolution medium did not affect the release profile. This three-step release system is expected to raise the blood concentration rapidly to effective level and to maintain effective blood level longer than simple slow-release systems.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to use a ternary polymeric matrix system for high drug loading of a highly soluble drug for controlled release delivery. The controlled drug delivery of diltiazem HCl (solubility > 50% in water at $25^{\circ}C$) with high loading dose (the final loading dose of drug was 34%) from a ternary polymeric matrix (gelatin, pectin, HPMC) was successfully accomplished. This simple monolithic system with 240 mg drug loading provided near zero-order release over a 24 hour-period by which time the system was completely dissolved. The release kinetics of diltiazem HCl tablet with high loading dose from the designed ternary polymeric system was dependent on the ratios of HPMC : pectin binary mixture. The release rate increased as pectin : HPMC ratio were increased. Swelling behavior of the ternary system and the ionic interaction of formulation components with cationic diltiazem molecule appear to control drug diffusion and the release kinetics. Comparable release profiles between commercial product and the designed system were obtained. The binding study between gelatin with diltiazem HCl showed the presence of two binding sites for drug interaction with subsequent controlled diffusion upon swelling. This designed delivery system is easy to manufacture and drug release behavior is highly reproducible and offers advantages over the existing commercial product.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 1988

The polymer electrolyte complex hydrogels consisting of poly (methacrylic acid) and poly (4-vinylpyrridine) were formed and 5-flurouracil and pilocarpine drugs were loaded on their hydrogels. Cumulative 5-FU released from PEC hydrogel was affected by the degree of loading and release rate of 5-FU was followed by the monolithic type. Cumulative pilocarpine released from PEC hydrogel increased by ionic interaction between cationic pilocarpine and anionic PMA. Release rate showed the zero order after burst effect.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.246-252
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• 2002

In order to the development of the delivery device of long-acting local anesthetics for postoperative analgesia and control of chronic pain of cancer patient, fentnyl-loaded poly (L-lactide-co-glycolido) (PLGA, molecular weight, 5,000 g/mole; 50 : 50 mole ratio by lactide to glycolide) microspheres (FMS) were studied. FMS were prepared by an emulsion solvent-evaporation method. The influence of several preparation parameters such as initial drug loading, PLGA concentration, emulsifier concentration, oil phase volume, and fabrication temperature has been investigated on the fentanyl release profiles. Generally, the drug showed the biphasic release patterns, with an initial diffusion followed by a lag period before the onset of the degradation phase, but there was no lag time in our system. Fentanyl was slowly released from FMS over 10 days in vitro with a quasi-zero order property. The release rate increased with increasing drug loading as well as decreasing polymer concentration with relatively small initial burst effect. From the results, FMS may be a good formulation to deliver the anesthetic for the treatment of chronic pain.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.269-273
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• 2009

The objective of this investigation was to develop a gastro-retentive(GR) dosage form of gabapentin and was to evaluate of its dissolution characteristics. GR tablet consists of expandable core tablet matrix and semi-permeable membrane coating. Poloxamer 407 and sodium bicarbonate were used to prepare the core matrix. Polyvinly acetate dispersion (Kollicoat $SR30D^{(R)}$) and polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol copolymer ((Kollicoat $IR^{(R)}$)) were employed to form the semi-permeable membrane. The GR tablets significantly expanded up to fivefold in simulated gastrointestinal fluids with no apparent damage of the coating membrane over 12 hours. Also, the swelling rate was controllable with the amount of sodium bicarbonate. The drug release was observed to be substantially sustained based on coating level. The release rate of gabapentin from the GR tablet was gradually slowed down as the coasting amount was increased. The gabapentin GR tablet with 8% coating level showed a pseudo-zero order release kinetics over 12 hours. These results suggest that this swellable GR tablet system having semi-permeable membrane coating can be applicable for hydrophilic drug substances like gabapentin.