DESIGN AND INVITRO EVALUATION OF PRESS COATED CORE IN CUP TABLETS FOR PULSATILE DRUG DELIVERY OF ANTI HYPERTENSIVE AGENT-ENALAPRIL

Murthy PNVN and Y. Anand Kumar*

ABSTRACT

In the present studies a model antihypertensive drug Enalapril is selected for the development of an alternative, simple, orally applicable press coated core-in-cup tablets for pulsatile drug delivery to meet the needs to treat hypertension and some types of chronic heart failures. The press coated core-in-cup tablets were prepared by direct compression method using selected swellable polymers viz., sodium alginate and sodium CMC and rupturable polymers viz., ethyl cellulose and HPMC K4M. Two core formulations were designed with hydrophilic polymers viz., PVPK90 and HPMC15cps. Four press coated core-in-cup tablets were designed with different ratios of swellable and rupturable polymers. All the batches of core tablets and core in cup tablets were evaluated for its pre compression parameters such as bulk density, tapped density, angle of repose, compressibility index etc, and post compression parameters viz., hardness, thickness, disintegration test, friability, in vitro dissolution studies and statistical interpretation of pharmacokinetic data with PCP Disso V3 software. All parameters were matching with specifications and well within the limits.

Keywords: Enalapril, circadian rhythm, pulsatile release, swellable, rupturable, burst release.