Pectin

The aim and objective of the study was to formulate the matrix system of Loxoprofen sodium that has a very short plasma half-life of 1.15 hours. Natural hydrophilic polymers (Xanthan gum and Pectin) were used to formulate matrix system. These polymers were used to sustain the drug in the matrix system that allowed the slow release of the drug. Different concentration of Xanthan gum and Pectin were used, individually as well as polymeric blends. Wet granulation method was selected for the compression of granules into tablets of 350mg each. Both pre-compressional and post-compressional parameters showed good results. Dissolution studies carried out in distilled water and 0.1 N HCl for 12 hours.  Matrix system of Xanthan gum showed comparatively good sustained effects in both media with suitable drug released concentration. Kinetics of drug release was studies by different kinetics models and it was observed that Higuchi was the best fit model for F6 that released minimum drug from the matrix. Values of similarity index showed that F5 resembled with the reference formulation (F6). All the tablets showed good swellability upon hydration that was greatly related to polymers concentration.

Carvedilol is a non selective α and β receptor blocker which undergoes extensive hepatic first pass metabolism by liver and has poor oral bioavailability of 25% - 30%. In the present investigation Carvedilol was formulated as a bilayered buccal adhesive tablets in order to avoid the first-pass effect and decrease the drug loss using two different natural polymers and excipients. Six formulations were made using different concentrations (17%w/w, 35%w/w, 53%w/w) of Pectin and Guar gum. Formulation F5 was selected for further studies of permeability. Three concentrations of SLS (1%, 1.5% & 2%w/w) was used to study the effect of permeation enhancer and improve the permeability of drug. The formulations were tested for % weight variation, hardness, Friability, % Drug content, in-vitro drug release, surface pH, Swelling index and Mucoadhesive strength. Mucoadhesive strength was determined by the modified balance method in grams and was found to be between 23.75±0.332gm to 60.89±0.134gm and Surface pH was found to be 7. In-vitro release studies revealed that as polymer concentration increases from 17% to 53%w/w, rate of drug release was retarded and the data was fitted into pharmacokinetic models. Among all other formulations, formulations (F5) containing 35%w/w Guar gum were found to be best as the release was retarded upto 8 hours and they have good mucoadhesive strength and they follow zero order with non-fickian diffusion mechanism. Formulation F9 (2%w/w SLS) shows more permeability of drug (34%) compared to other formulations.