[Release mechanism of huperzine-A swelling sustained-release tablets].
OBJECTIVE
To study the release mechanism of Huperzine-A swelling sustained-release tablets (HA-ST) and the factors influencing the release rate.


METHODS
The HA-ST were prepared by using Polyoxyethylene (PEO) as the matrix material, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the expandable reagent and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as the filling reagent. The effect of the amount of PEO, PVA and MCC on the drug release from the tablets was evaluated using the release index n value of the Ritger-Peppas equation.


RESULTS
The addition of PEO and PVA speeded up the rate of drug release from the tablets, while MCC did not affect the release rate. The release profiles of HA-ST conformed to the Higuchi model and the release mechanism was non-Fick release that coupled diffusion and erosion.


CONCLUSIONS
The release of HA-ST is influenced by the amount of PEO and PVA but not the MCC. The release process can be depicted by the Ritger-Peppas equation and release mechanism was is non-Fick release.
Tang
Yu
Y
State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, Shenzhen 518507, China. tangyu44@sina.com
Zhou
Wei
W
He
Fuyuan
F
Liu
Cha
C
Yang
Dajian
D
D000470:Alkaloids; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004058:Diffusion; D008954:Models, Biological; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013607:Tablets / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D000470:Alkaloids; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013607:Tablets; C050426:huperzine A; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D002482:Cellulose; C109691:microcrystalline cellulose