Design and evaluation of effervescent floating tablets based on hydroxyethyl cellulose and sodium alginate using pentoxifylline as a model drug

摘要

The aim of this work was to design and evaluate effervescent floating gastro-retentiveuddrug delivery matrix tablets with sustained-release behavior using a binary mixture ofudhydroxyethyl cellulose and sodium alginate. Pentoxifylline was used as a highly water-soluble,udshort half-life model drug with a high density. The floating capacity, swelling, and drug releaseudbehaviors of drug-loaded matrix tablets were evaluated in 0.1 N HCl (pH 1.2) at 37°C±0.5°C.udRelease data were analyzed by fitting the power law model of Korsmeyer–Peppas. The effectudof different formulation variables was investigated, such as wet granulation, sodium bicarbonateudgas-forming agent level, and tablet hardness properties. Statistical analysis was appliedudby paired sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance depending on the type of data touddetermine significant effect of different parameters. All prepared tablets through wet granulationudshowed acceptable physicochemical properties and their drug release profiles followedudnon-Fickian diffusion. They could float on the surface of dissolution medium and sustain drugudrelease over 24 hours. Tablets prepared with 20% w/w sodium bicarbonate at 50–54 N hardnessudwere promising with respect to their floating lag time, floating duration, swelling ability, andudsustained drug release profile.udKeywords: floating tablets, sodium alginate, pentoxifylline, dissolution, swelling,udeffervescent