The influence of HPMC concentration on release of theophylline or hydrocortisone from extended release mini-tablets

Aug. 1, 2013, midnight - by Faiezah A. A. Mohamed , Matthew Roberts , Linda Seton , James L. Ford , Marina Levina , Ali R. Rajabi-Siahboomi

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Context: Mini-tablets, compact dosage forms typically 2–3 mm in diameter, offer potential advantages for paediatric drug delivery. Extended-release (ER) oral dosage forms aim to provide controlled drug release for prolonged therapeutic action. Polymers like hypromellose (HPMC) are commonly used to create ER hydrophilic matrices. Objective: Develop ER mini-tablets of various sizes for paediatric delivery and investigate the impact of HPMC concentration, tablet diameter, and drug solubility on the release rate. Methods: Determine the solubility of hydrocortisone and theophylline. Formulate mini-tablets (2 and 3 mm) and tablets (4 and 7 mm) containing theophylline or hydrocortisone with HPMC (METHOCEL™ K15M) at different concentrations (30, 40, 50, and 60% w/w). Study the effects of tablet size, HPMC concentration, and drug solubility on release rate and tensile strength. Results and Discussion: Increasing HPMC content and tablet diameter significantly reduced the drug release rate from ER mini-tablets. Theophylline-containing tablets and mini-tablets exhibited faster drug dissolution than those with hydrocortisone, highlighting the influence of drug solubility on release from ER matrices. The results suggest that altering polymer content and mini-tablet diameter allows for different drug release profiles and doses, providing dose flexibility to meet paediatric requirements. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the feasibility of producing ER mini-tablets to sustain drug release rates, offering dose flexibility for paediatric patients. Tailoring drug release rates can be achieved by adjusting mini-tablet size or HPMC levels without compromising tablet strength.