Matrices containing NaCMC and HPMC: 1. Dissolution performance characterization

In this study hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) were used as polymeric carriers to improve controlled release performances of matrix tablets containing a soluble drug. The drug release behaviour of the systems containing these two polymers mixture and each material separately was investigated. To evaluate the effect of the dissolution medium pH, on the drug release performance, release tests were conducted at pH 1, 4.5 and 6.8. In vitro release studies demonstrated that the mixture of the two cellulose derivatives enables a better control of the drug release profiles at pH 4.5 and at 6.8 both in term of rate and mechanism. Texture analysis on the swollen tablets helps to understand drug release kinetic and mechanism. In fact, the results obtained confirm that a gel, which is characterized by high strength and consistence is less susceptible to erosion and chains disentanglement and the drug release mechanism is mainly governed by diffusion. On the contrary, gels, which show a low strength and texture, have low resistance to the fluid erosion action and the release of the active molecule is manly due to polymer relaxation and chains disentanglement moving the drug delivery kinetic towards an erosion/relaxation mechanism.