Chronotherapetically Designed Pulsatile, Colon Targeted Formulation for Atenolol- Design and Characterization

Chronopharmaceutics is a branch of pharmaceutics devoted to the design and evaluation of drug delivery systems that release a bioactive agent at a rhythm that ideally matches the biological requirement of a given disease therapy. A major objective of chronotherapy in the treatment of several diseases is to deliver the drug in higher concentrations during the time of greatest need according to the circadian onset of diseases or symptoms. The main objective of the present study is to develop single-unit pulsatile drug delivery system for obtaining no drug release till it reaches in colon followed by pulsed drug release in colon to achieve chronotherapeutic release of atenolol for treatment of hypertension and to improve the patient compliance. In vitro studies revealed that the tablet coated with guar gum and Eudragit S-100 have limited drug release in stomach and small intestinal environment and released maximum amount of drug in the colonic environment. Programmable pulsatile, colon-specific release has been achieved from tablet of T7 formulation (50:50) which meet demand of chronotherapeutic drug delivery. Key Words: pulsatile, chronotherapeutic, hypertension, atenolol