Development of controlled release cellulose-pellets based multicore tablets

• Published in: European polymer journal Vol. 105; pp. 389 - 397
• Main Authors: Gaikwad, Vinod L., Sharma, Seema N., Bhatia, Manish S., Mahadik, Kakasaheb R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2018
• Subjects: Controlled drug delivery; Multicore tablets; Pellets; Controlled drug delivery; Multicore tablets; Pellets
• ISSN: 0014-3057; 1873-1945
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2018.06.019

[Display omitted] •Granules based multicore tablets showed inferior quality attributes.•Therefore, quality by design approach was integrated for product development.•Pellets were prepared by optimized extrusion-spheronization process.•Pellets based multicore tablets developed for controlled and extended drug release.•Pellets showed strong control over drug content and release compared to granules.•Use of multicore tablets with specified intercore distance for pulsatile release. The hypothesis of the present study is to develop a pellet based multicore tablets for controlled release of Metoprolol succinate with the integration of quality by design approach. Development of controlled release multicore tablets is need of the hour for effective management of cardiovascular disease. Granules based multicore tablets showed unsatisfactory results, therefore pellets based multicore tablets were developed for improved characteristics. Pellets based multicore tablets showed hardness (4 kg/cm), friability (< 1%) and drug content (up to 98.6 ± 0.7%) within acceptable limits. Optimized batch showed controlled drug release for an extended time (t90% = 543.2 min) following zero-order kinetics as well as good stability at 40 °C/75% RH. The predictability of developed models was subsequently validated. Therefore, pellets based multicore tablets developed in the present study could serve as a promising tool in controlled drug delivery for a prolonged time.