FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF PULSATILE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM CONTAINING INDOMETHACIN USING NATURAL POLYMERS

Abstract

Aim of the present work was to formulate and evaluate an oral pulsatile drug delivery system using natural superdisintegrants and natural polymers to achieve time release of Indomethacin, based on chronopharmaceutical approach for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Pulsatile delivery system is capable of delivering drug when and where it required most. By administering the system at bedtime, but releasing drug as a burst after the lag time (during peak morning hours) thereby delivering the drug when and where it is required the most with decreased side effects, dose size and prolonged action. The press-coated pulsatile release tablet contains Indomethacin in the inner rapid release core tablet formulated by direct compression method using plantago ovata mucilage and modified agar as superdisintegrants and the external coat formulated using natural polymers such as dammar gum, chitosan, xanthan gum and gaur gum by both direct and wet granulation method. The prepared press-coated pulsatile tablets were evaluated for various pre-compressional and post-compressional parameters. In-vitro release profiles of pulsatile device during 10 h studies were found to have very good sustaining efficacy. Formulation code A1, A8, B2 and B7 were selected as the best formulations with formulation B2 containing xanthan gum and dammar gum in the ratio 2:1 having maximum lag time of 7 h 15 min.