Tramadol Hydrochloride

Tramadol Hydrochloride is an opioid pain medication which is used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. Various analytical methods used for the estimation of Tramadol hydrochloride has been reviewed in this paper. These include Ultraviolet spectrophotometry, Visible spectrometry, Spectrofluorimetry, High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography, High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography, Gas Chromatography- mass spectrometry, Cyclic Voltammetry, Liquid Chromatography-Electronspray ionization-mass spectrometry, Gas Chromatography, Liquid Chromatography- mass spectrometry, and Capillary Electrophoresis to determine the amount of Tramadol Hydrochloride in bulk drug, pharmaceutical dosage form and biological fluids. Stability indicating methods for Tramadol Hydrochloride are also described. These analytical methods can be used for qualitative and quantitative estimation of Tramadol Hydrochloride in bulk, formulation and biological fluids.

Colon targeted drug delivery system is capable of protecting the drug in route to the colon i.e. drug gets released and absorbed once it reaches the colon. A multiparticulate system combining pH sensitive property and biodegradability has been investigated to prepare and evaluate Eudragit S-100 coated Sodium alginate microspheres for colon targeting of Tramadol Hydrochloride. Uncoated Tramadol Hydrochloride microspheres were prepared by ionotropic gelation technique using different ratios of Tramadol Hydrochloride and Sodium alginate. Coated Tramadol Hydrochloride microspheres were prepared by coacervation phase separation technique using different ratios of uncoated Tramadol Hydrochloride and Eudragit S-100/ Eudragit L-100. Uncoated and coated Tramadol Hydrochloride microspheres were evaluated for percentage yield, particle size, surface morphology, flow properties, drug content and entrapment efficiency and were found to be within the acceptable range. The uncoated microspheres sustained the release upto 8 hrs whereas coated microspheres sustained the release upto 12 hrs in a pH progression medium mimicking the condition of GIT. The drug release from MC4 formulation coated with Eudragit S-100 (1:4) showed desired rate as there was no drug release observed upto 4-5 hrs, while in colonic fluid controlled drug release was observed releasing about 69.66 % after 12 hrs. The release kinetics followed Peppas showing Super Case II transport. Stability studies suggested formulations were stable. It is concluded from the present investigation that Eudragit S-100 coated Sodium alginate microspheres are promising controlled release carriers for colon targeted delivery of Tramadol Hydrochloride.