INTRODUCTION
Gastro-retentive systems swell and are retained in the stomach for a number of hours, while it continuously releases the drug at a controlled rate leading to higher bioavailability, therapeutic efficacy, reduced time intervals for drug administration, and thus improved patient compliance. Hence these gastro-retentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) are advantageous for drugs absorbed mainly from the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (GIT) because they have a narrow absorption window and are unstable in the medium of distal intestinal regions.1 They are even beneficial in the local therapy of the stomach. Compounding drugs with narrow absorption windows in a GRDDS would enable an extended absorption phase of these drugs.2 The retention of oral dose forms in the upper GIT causes prolonged contact time of drug with the GI mucosa.
Sintering techniques: Sintering is defined as “the bonding of adjacent particle surfaces in a mass of powder, or in a compact, by the application of heat or by exposing to solvents”. The sintering process has been used for the fabrication of sustained-release (SR) matrix tablets for the stabilization and retardation of the drug release.
Sintering means fusion of particles or formulations of welded bonds between particles of a polymer. In other words, sintering increases the cross-linking between particles in the polymer. Sintering can be achieved by physical (thermal)3 and chemical (solvent casting)4,5 methods.
Physical method: It includes exposing the dose form to different temperatures, then polymer molecules rearrange at high temperature and result in increased cross- linking in the dose forms.
Thermal sintering: SR oral dose forms are exposed to temperatures above the glass transition point of the polymer, which melts or deforms min amounts of polymer on the surface. These molecules move on the polymer or move into the cross-linked structure of the polymer and become entangled in the three-dimensional structure of the polymer, thereby increasing the complexity, which results in decreased drug release by increased retardation hardness of the dose forms.
Chemical method: This includes exposing the dose form to solvent for different time periods. In this method, polymer molecules undergo partial solubilization in a given solvent and then reoriented to give denser forms with new cross-linking by forming bonds between the polymer molecules. Generally, the cross-linking solvents used are acetone, glutaraldehyde, and formaldehyde.
Solvent casting method: In this method, the prepared tablets are exposed to acetone vapors as a cross-linking agent. CP is available for oral dosing as an ester-prodrug, which keeps it stable and increases the oral absorption and is less likely to produce GI upset, palatability problems, and changes in intestinal flora prior to absorption. In present study, a CP floating drug delivery system was prepared using locust bean gum as a rate-retarding material. The prepared tablets were subjected to sintering using acetone as a cross-linking agent.
MATERIALS AND EXPERIMENTAL WORK
Materials
Cefpodoxime proxetil was received as a gift sample from Micro Labs Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) K30 was obtained from Burgoyne Burbidges & Co., Mumbai. Magnesium stearate was purchased from SD fine chemicals, Mumbai. Locust bean gum was purchased from Himedia laboratories Pvt. Ltd., which contains galactomannans (plant reserve carbohydrates present in large quantities in the endosperm of the seeds of many leguminosae such as Ceratonia silique). Chemically, they consist of a (1-4)-linked β-D-mannose backbone with (1-6)-linked side chains of α-D-galactose,6,7 thus being neutral polymers.8 Citric acid anhydrous was purchased from Universal Laboratories, Mumbai. Camphor was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, and all other chemicals, reagents, and solvents used were of analytical grade.
Experimental work
CP has good stability and solubility in acidic pHs. Tablets were prepared by wet granulation using locust bean gum as a retardant material.
Preformulation studies
Preformulation studies are performed for testing the physical and chemical properties of a drug substance alone and in combination with excipients.
Precompression parameters of powder blends and granules
Required quantities of all the ingredients were subjected to grinding then passed through a no. #60 sieve. The granules were prepared by blending powder with PVP K30 in iso propyl alcohol (IPA) as a granulating agent and the wet mass was screened using a no. #44 sieve, then dried at 40°C in a hot air oven. The powder blend and dried granules were tested for flow properties using the angle of repose, bulk density (BD), tapped density (TD), Carr’s index, and Hausner’s ratio.9
Angle of repose
Angle of repose is the angle between the surface pile of granules and a horizontal plane. A fixed amount of blend was taken and carefully poured through the funnel whose tip was fixed at a height of 2.5 cm above graph paper, which was placed on a horizontal surface. The blend of the powder was poured till the apex of the conical pile just touches the tip of the funnel. The angle of repose is calculated using the following formula.
θ = Tan-1 (h/r) (1)
Where, θ = angle of repose, r = radius of the pile, h = height of the pile
BD
BD is defined as the ratio mass of an untapped powder divided by the bulk volume (V) including the inter-particulate void spaces. Apparent BD was determined by pouring the blend into a graduated cylinder. The bulk V and weight of the powder (M) was determined. The BD was calculated using the following formula:
BD = M / V (2)
TD
A measuring cylinder containing a known mass of blend was tapped for a fixed time (around 100 taps). The minimum volume (Vt) ccupied in the cylinder and the weight (M) of the blend was measured. The TD was calculated using the following formula:
TD = M / (Vt) (3)
Carr’s index
The compressibility index is an indirect measure of BD, size, shape, surface area, moisture content, and cohesiveness of powder. The correlation between compressibility index and powder flow properties is given in the following formula:
CI (%) = TD – BD / TD x 100 (4)
Hausner’s ratio
This is an indirect index of ease of powder flow and is measured by the ratio of TD to BD.
Hausner’s ratio = TD / BD (5)
Drug-excipient compatibility studies
Fourier-trasform infrared (FTIR)
The spectrum analysis of pure drug and physical mixture of drug and different excipients used for the preparation of tablets was studied using FTIR. FTIR spectra were recorded by preparing potassium bromide (KBr) discs using a Shimadzu Corporation (Koyto, Japan). KBr discs were prepared by mixing a few milligrams of sample with KBr and compressed at 10 tons pressure. The resultant disc was mounted in a suitable holder in an IR spectrophotometer and the spectrum was recorded from 4000 cm-1 to 500 cm-1. The resultant spectrum was compared for any spectral changes. They were observed for the presence of characteristic peaks for the respective functional group in the compound.
Formulation of cefpodoxime proxetil floating tablets
Dose calculation
Cefpodoxime is available in proxetil salt form. Dose is calculated based on its t1/2 and Vd.
K0 r = Rate in = Rate out = Ke x Cd x V (6)
Where K0 r is the zero-order rate constant for drug release (amount/time), Ke is the first-order rate constant of overall drug elimination (hr-1), Cd is the desired drug level in the body (amount/V), and Vd is the V in which the drug is distributed.
Ke = 0.693 / t1/2 (7)
The t1/2 (elimination half-life) of CP is 2.4 hours, thus Ke = 0.693/2.4 = 0.288 hr-1
Cd is 1.4 mg/L, and Vd is 32.3 L, then K0 r = Ke x Cd x Vd = 0.288 x 1.4 x 32.3 = 13.05 mg/h.
K0 r was calculated as 13.05 mg/h, so the drug release constant should also have been equal to the elimination constant to maintain the steady-state condition.
Cefpodoxime only has 50% oral absorption in fasting conditions, whereas it is ~75% with food
K0 r = 13.05 x 125/ 100 = 16.32 mg/h
Loading dose (DL) = Di – K0 r Tp (8)
Time to reach the peak drug level (Tp) is 2.5 hours.
Maintenance dose (Dm) = K0 r Td (9)
Total dose = DL + Dm (10)
Where Td is the total time desired for SR from 1 dose (i.e., 12 hours).
Hence, total dose = (100 – 16.32 x 2.5) + 16.32 x 12 = (100 – 40.8) + 195.28 = 255.04
Since 130 mg of cefpodoxime proxetil is equivalent to 100 mg of cefpodoxime.
= 255.04 x 1.3 = 331.55 mg. Hence the dose used was 330 mg/tablet.
Preparation of tablets by wet granulation using a sublimating agent
The tablets were prepared through wet granulation using sublimating agent. All the ingredients, locust bean gum and drug were passed through a no. #60 sieve. Granules were prepared using 5% PVP in IPA as a binder solution and passed through a no. #44 sieve. Granules were dried at 40°C for 2 hrs and passed through a no. #30 sieve. Camphor was added according to the respective formula and lubricated with magnesium stearate. Formulations were prepared as given in Table 1 and the final blend was compressed into tablets on a 10-station rotary tablet machine using 11.9 punches. The prepared tablets were sublimated in a hot air oven at 60°C for 3 days. Tablets with a final weight equal to the theoretical weight after complete sublimation were selected for further experimentation (Figure 1).
Evaluation of cefpodoxime proxetil floating tablets
The prepared bilayer tablets were evaluated for various parameters such as weight variation, thickness, density, hardness, friability,9 drug content, content uniformity, and in vitro dissolution studies.10,11,12
Tablet thickness
The thickness in millimeters (mm) was measured individually for 10 pre-weighed tablets by Vernier calipers. The average thickness and standard deviation were reported.
Density of tablets
The density of the sublimated tablets (g/cm3) was calculated both before and after sublimation from the tablet height, diameter, and mass using the following equation:
D = W / [(M/2)2 x Π x h] (11)
Where W is the mass of a tablet, M is the tablet diameter, Π is the circular constant, and h is the tablet height.
Tablet hardness
Tablet hardness was measured using a Monsanto hardness tester. The average crushing strength of the 5 tablets with known weight and thickness of each was reported.
Friability test
Ten tablets were accurately weighed and placed in the friability test apparatus (Roche friabilator), and rotated at 25 rpm for 4 mins. The tablets were taken, dedusted, and reweighed. The friability was calculated as the percentage weight loss using equation 12. Friability values below 1% are generally acceptable.
% Friability = (W1 – W2) x 100 / W1 (12)
Where, W1 = Initial weight of the tablets, W2 = Final weight of the tablets.
Weight variation test
To study weight variation, individual weights (WI) of 20 tablets from each formulation were noted using an electronic balance. Their average weight (WA) and percentage weight variation was calculated using equation 13.
% Weight variation = (WA – WI) x 100 / WA (13)
Drug content
Ten tablets were weighed and taken into a mortar and crushed into a fine powder. An accurately weighed portion of the powder equivalent to 100 mg of CP was transferred to a 100-mL volumetric flask containing methanol. It was shaken mechanically for 1 hr, then filtered using Whatman filter paper.10 From this filtrate, 1 mL was taken, diluted to 10 mL with 0.1N HCl, and the absorbance was measured against a blank at 264.2 nm using an ultraviolet (UV)-spectrophotometer. The drug content of the floating tablets meets the requirements if the tablet amount lies within the range of 90% to 110%.
Buoyancy/floating test
Tablets were placed into a 100-mL beaker containing 0.1 N HCl and the time between the introduction and the tablet emerging on the surface of the medium is called the “floating lag time”. The total duration of time during which the dose form remains buoyant is called the “total floating time (TFT)”.
In vitro dissolution studies10,12
The tablet was placed in a dissolution test apparatus USP II, containing 900 mL of 0.1 N HCl at a speed of 50 rpm. A 5 mL aliquot was withdrawn every 1 hr up to 12 hrs and replaced with 5 mL of fresh dissolution medium. Each sample was analyzed at 264.2 nm using a double-beam UV spectrophotometer against a reagent blank.
Sintering
According to the compositions given in Table 1, tablets were prepared and subjected to sublimation, then these tablets were subjected to lower as well as higher polymeric concentrations prepared using low hardness and subjected to sintering process.
Procedure: The lower chamber of the dessicator was filled with acetone, closed, and kept aside for saturation. After saturation of the chamber, the compressed tablets were placed over a wire-mesh, which is kept above the lower chamber of the dessicator containing acetone. The dessicator is made airtight by closing the lid with the help of vacuum grease. Tablets of each formulation described in Table 2 were exposed to different durations of sintering (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9 and 10.5 hrs). Finally, the tablets were dried in an oven at 36°C for 24 hours and then stored in a vacuum desiccator fused with calcium chloride until further use.
Evaluation of sintered tablets
Sintered tablets were subjected to various evaluation tests including hardness, friability, buoyancy studies and in vitro dissolution studies. Buoyancy and dissolution studies were performed in 0.1 N HCl.
Kinetic analysis of dissolution data (model dependent method)
The dissolution profiles of optimized formula in 0.1 N HCl were fitted to zero-order, first-order, Higuchi and Korsemeyer-Peppas kinetic models. The model with the highest correlation coefficient was considered to be the best fitting one. By these studies the release mechanisms were determined.
Determination of surface morphology of prepared tablets using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
The effect of the sublimation material (camphor) on the morphology of the prepared tablets was examined using SEM. The main objective of the study was to examine the surface of the prepared tablets during sublimation before and after sintering.
FTIR studies of sintered matrix tablets
FTIR studies were performed for the powdered tablets after sintering. The spectrum obtained was observed for the presence of characteristic peaks and compared with pure drug.
Determination of residual acetone using gas chromatography (GC)
Analytical instrument settings
GC was employed for the determination of acetone in the tablet. The GC used was an Aligent, Model 7890, GC equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID). The analysis was performed under the following chromatographic conditions: Column - WCOT Fused Silica, 30 x 0.32 x 1.8 µm. The temperature of the FID was 220°C, and the injector temperature was 220°C. The oven temperature was programmed to 40°C (for 2 min), followed by an increase of 5°C/min until 200°C. The carrier gas was nitrogen with a flow of 1.5 mL/min. The injection of test and standard was performed using a 10-µL Hamilton syringe.
Optimized sintered tablets were crushed and taken to 1000-mL volumetric flask and the V was made up with deionized water. The flask was shaken and kept aside to obtain a clear supernatant. A fixed V of supernatant (0.5 µL) was injected into the chromatographic system and the amount of acetone in the tablets was calculated.
Determination of gastric retention period using X-ray imaging studies
Evaluation of gastric retention of CP sintered floating tablets was performed on rabbits using a radio opaque marker, barium sulfate. X-ray imaging studies are non-invasive method that provides identification or monitoring of total GI residence time without affecting normal gastrointestinal motility.
Dose translation was based on body surface area (BSA). The animal dose should not be extrapolated to a human equivalent dose (HED) based on body weight by simple conversion. The use of BSA normalization is suggested for more appropriate conversion of doses from humans to animals or vice versa. BSA correlates well with most mammalian species by several parameters of biology, including oxygen use, caloric expenditure, basal metabolism, blood V, circulating plasma proteins, and renal function.
The rabbit dose was calculated according to the following equation:
Animal dose (mg/kg)=HED x human Km value/animal Km value (14)
To convert dose in mg/kg=Dose in mg/m2 x Km value.
Human (human adult of weight 60 kg) Km value 37, animal (rabbit weighing 1.8 kg) Km value 12.
Values based on data from the United Sates Food and Drug Administration draft guidelines.
Animal dose (mg/kg)=5.5 x 37/12 = 5.5 x 3.08=16.94 mg/kg.
Rabbit under study weighed 1.9 kg. So, 16.94 x 1.9=32.1 mg.
Hence the dose for in vivo studies taken was 32.1 mg. 25% of drug was replaced with barium sulfate i.e., so 8.025 mg per each tablet. The formulas for in vivo gastro retentive (GR) tablets are given in Table 3.
The tablets were prepared on 10-station rotary tablet machine using 4 mm punches. Prepared tablets were sublimated at 60°C in a hot air oven for 3 days. The sublimated tablet was exposed to acetone for 6 hours for sintering. The tablets were then dried in the hot air oven at 36°C for 24 hours and then stored in vacuum desiccators.
Healthy rabbits of 2.0±0.2 kg were fasted over night and in the following morning, tablet formulation S2, which was adjusted to a rabbit dose with tracing radio opaque agent, was administered through plastic tubing followed by flushing of 25-30 mL of water. During the entire study, the rabbits had free access to water alone. At different time intervals of 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours, the rabbit GI tract was photographed using X-rays in the supine position and observed for the nature and position of the CP floating tablet.
Determination of stability of tablets after sublimation using thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
The stability of CP, which can be determined by exposure to acetone vapors in a desiccator for 9 hours, was evaluated using TLC.
Procedure
Preparation of standard solution: An accurately weighed quantity of 10 mg of CP was transferred to a 10-mL volumetric flask an dissolved in methanol. The V was made up with the same solvent to obtain a concentration of 1 mg/mL.
Mobile phase
Water: Methanol 50:50 v/v composition.
Antimicrobial studies for sintered GR tablets
The microbial assay is based on a comparison of the inhibition of growth of bacteria by measured concentrations of the compound to be examined with that produced by known concentrations of standard preparation of the antibiotic with known activity.
The microbial assay may be conducted by two methods. Method A: Cylinder or cup-plate diffusion and Method B: Turbidimetric or tube assay.
In the present investigation, the cylinder or cup-plate technique was employed.
The following strains of bacteria were used for the study.
1.Gram-positive bacteria - Bacillus subtilus
2. Gram-negative bacteria - Escherichia coli
Preparation of standard antibiotic solution
The stock solution (1 mg/mL) of antibiotics was prepared by dissolving 10 mg of CP in a volumetric flask containing 10 mL dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). From stock solution, 2 mL was taken and further diluted to 10 mL with DMSO to get 10 mg/50 mL.
Preparation of test solutions: The formulation was crushed into powder. Powder weight equivalent to 10 mg of drug was dissolved in 10 mL of DMSO (the drug assay was performed for tablets and equivalent to10 mg was taken). From this solution, further dilutions were made using DMSO to obtain concentrations of 10 µg/50 µL, 5 µg/50 µL, 2.5 µg/50 µL, and 1.25 µg/50 µL.
Accelerated stability studies
Optimized formulation F2 was subjected to stability studies at 40°C±2°C/75%±5% RH and room temperature, and analyzed for its physical characteristics, drug content, and dissolution studies for a period of one month.
This study was approved by the IAEC (ID No: GPRCP / IAEC / 3 / PCE / AE - 3).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Preformulation studies
Drug-excipients compatibility study by FTIR
CP compatibility with excipient was studied using FTIR (Figure 2, Table 4). FTIR results showed that the characteristic functional groups matched those reported in the literature.13
It was found that the drug and the other powder blends do not possess the required flow characteristics for direct compression because the angle of repose, Hausner’s ratio, and Carr’s compressibility index were not within flow property limits as shown in Table 5. Hence, tablets were prepared using the wet granulation method.
The flow property values of the granules of all formulations were found to possess good flow properties and were within the compendial limits of the Indian Pharmacopoeia;8 the values are shown in Table 6.
Evaluation of CP floating tablets
Prepared floating tablets were evaluated for physiochemical properties.
The physicochemical evaluation of tablets such as weight variation test, friability, hardness, and content uniformity of all the formulations were within compendial standards. The values are as shown in Table 7.
Effect of sublimation of camphor on tablet properties
The floating properties of the GR tablets and effects of sublimation on thickness, density, and crush strength (hardness) are summarized in Table 8.
The crush strength of the tablets decreased after sublimation. As the camphor content in the tablet increased from 5% to 15% w/w, the crush strength of the GR tablet decreased, and the densities of the tablets also decreased.14 When more than 40 mg of camphor was added to the GR tablet formulations, the density of the tablets was less than 1.00 g/cm3. In all formulations, the thickness and porosity of tablets slightly increased after sublimation, which resulted in the tablets having a density less than 1 gm/cm3. Thus, the tablets floated on the dissolution media due to air in the porous tablets without any lag time.15
Buoyancy/floating test
In the sublimation method, camphor was used at different concentrations and floating properties were studied (Table 9).
Camphor, upon sublimation, resulted in a slight increase in thickness and also increased porosity, which finally resulted in the tablets having density less than 1 gm/cm3. Tablets so formed floated on dissolution media without any lag time.
Formulations containing 15% camphor showed floating properties with no lag time, but cracks developed in the tablets after 9 to 10 hours, as a result chipping was observed on tablet surface. Hence, formulations F2 and F5 were found to have optimum floating properties (Figure 3).
The formulations with a lag time of less than 30 mins and TFT of greater 12 hours were selected and subjected to dissolution studies for optimization.
In vitro drug dissolution testing of floating tablets
Based on the floating study results, formulations F2 and F5 were selected and subjected to dissolution studies for further optimization.
Among the different formulations subjected to dissolution studies, formulation F2 (containing a 0.35 ratio of locust bean gum with respect to drug and camphor 10%) showed a comparatively better dissolution profile of 95.8% for 12 hours (Figure 4). Based on the results of floating studies (no lag time) and dissolution studies, formulation F2 was selected and subjected to sintering.16
Effect of camphor concentration on in vitro release of CP
Different formulations from F1 to F6 were studies with increased amounts of camphor, which led to the decreased density of the resultant GR tablets after sublimation.
Drug release kinetics: Model-dependent method
The release kinetics for the different formulations was calculated using Microsoft Office Excel, 2007. The release data were analyzed by fitting the drug release profiles of all the formulations into zero-order release, first-order release, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas models.
From the results of model-dependent kinetic analyses of the dissolution profiles of the formulations F2 and F5, it was found that the release of drug from these formulations followed zero-order kinetics and the mechanism of release was found to be anomalous transport from r2 and n values, as shown in Table 10.
Sintering technique
The prepared floating tablets were exposed to acetone vapors for sintering. Based on the results in the floating test and in vitro dissolution studies, formulation F2 (0.35 ratio polymer to drug) was found to be better when compared with the other formulation. Hence, the 0.35 ratio was selected.
Drug retardation was increased with long exposure times to acetone vapors in formulation S1. This may be due to the cross-linking of polymer as well as the process of sintering. After further exposure to acetone i.e., for 9 hours and 10.5 hours, there was no significant difference in drug release due to saturation of the cross-linking on the tablet surface.
From the dissolution studies of formulations S1 to S3 (Figure 5, 6, and 7), it can be concluded that S2 had better sustained drug release (97.3%, in 12 hours) on exposure to acetone for 6 hours; therefore, it was selected as the optimized formulation. The optimized S2 formulation was physically evaluated for hardness and friability before and after sintering (Tables 11, 12).
SEM
Figure 8a, 8b shows the morphology of S2 before and after sublimation, respectively, as viewed under SEM,13 Figure 8c shows the morphology of S2 after sintering.
The morphology of the tablet composites after sublimation is highly porous, which affects the density and floating properties of tablets. It was observed that the pore cavity on the tablets and also porosity (to some extent) was reduced after sintering. The reason attributed to the decrease in porosity was the redistribution of polymer during sintering. The polymer undergoes partial solubility in acetone vapors, which results in the redistribution of polymer molecules on the tablet surface and also into the pores formed due to sublimation.
FTIR studies
The prepared tablets were subjected to FTIR studies both after sublimation and after sintering to conform the drug stability in final formulation (Figure 9).
From the results of FTIR, it was found that the functional peaks of the drug were retained after being subjected to sublimation and sintering. This implies that the drug was stable and also compatible with other excipients throughout the process.
Determination of residual camphor and acetone using GC
GC was employed to estimate the amount of residual acetone in the optimized tablets. The retention time of acetone was found as 9 mins and 30 seconds. The regression equation for the standard curve constructed by taking known concentrations (µg/mL) of acetone was found as y=1605x-177.
The chromatogram of acetone (known concentration i.e., 10 µg/mL) is shown in Figure 10, non-sintered tablets (not exposed to acetone vapors) in Figure 11, and the optimized tablet (tablet exposed to 6 hours of acetone) in Figure 12.
Based on results of GC, the residual concentration of acetone in the optimized tablet was found to be within the limits of generally recognized as safe (Table 13). It can be concluded that the tablets prepared by chemical sintering using acetone are safe and this method can be used as alternate technique in the preparation of matrix tablets.
In vivo buoyancy study
An in vivo buoyancy study was performed on a healthy rabbit. The animal dose was calculated using dose translation based on BSA. Figure 13 depicts the position and nature of the tablets at different time intervals after oral administration.
From the obtained results, it was observed that the floating tablets formulated with CP and locust bean gum remained in the gastric region even after 8 hours of administration, indicating good retention of the tablets in the stomach region.17,18
TLC
TLC was performed to check the stability of CP when exposed to acetone vapors, by comparing the Rf values of test with pure or standard CP.
From the TLC, no colored spot other than the principal spot of CP was observed in the chromatogram, which also showed a similar Rf value to that of the standard (0.67) (Figure 14). This indicated that CP did not degrade even after exposure to acetone vapors.
Anti-microbial studies
The anti-microbial activity of the final formulation tested. Zone of inhibition studies were performed using the test drug solution and a standard (pure) antibiotic solution. Figure 15 shows the zone of inhibition of the test and standard solutions and the diameter of the zones obtained. The zone diameters are reported in Table 14.
From the microbiologic studies, similar zones of inhibition were shown for both pure drug as well as sintered matrix tablets. Therefore, it can be concluded that CP in the final formulation retained its antibacterial activity.
Stability studies
The optimized formulation was subjected to stability studies and the results are given in Table 15 and in Figure 16.
During the accelerated stability studies, optimized tablets were stable with insignificant changes in floating lag time, floating time, drug content, and in vitro drug release characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, formulation S2, which was prepared using locust bean gum as a rate control polymer at the ratio of 0.3:1.0 (locust bean gum:drug), showed better floating properties <14 min and dissolution profile with 95.0% for 12 hrs compared to other formulations such as S1 and S3. Formulation S2 can be considered as the final optimized formulation for a sintered, floating gastro-retentive matrix tablet of CP to increase gastric residence time and thereby improve its bioavailability.
Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.