Formulation and evaluation of natural gum-based sustained release matrix tablets of flurbiprofen using response surface methodology.
BACKGROUND
This research work was done to design oral sustained release matrix tablets of water-insoluble drug, flurbiprofen, using natural gums as the matrix polymers and to evaluate the drug release characteristics using response surface methodology. The central composite design for two factors at five levels each was employed to systematically optimize drug release profile.


METHODS
Matrix tablets were prepared by direct compression technique. Xanthan and acacia gums were taken as the independent variables. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies were also performed to find out the stability of drug during the direct compression and to check the interactions between polymers and drug. Percent drug release in 2 hours and percent drug release in 8 hours were taken as response variables (Y1 and Y2, respectively).


RESULTS
Both the polymers were found to have significant effect on the drug release. Polynomial mathematical models, generated for the response variables using multiple linear regression analysis, were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). Contour plots were drawn to depict the relationship between response variables and independent variables.


CONCLUSIONS
The formulated matrix tablets followed zero-order kinetics with negligible drug release in 0.1 N HCl at pH 1.2, which was the objective of this study to produce a formulation avoiding the gastric effects of flurbiprofen.
Shah
Syed Nisar Hussain
SN
Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. nisarhussain@bzu.edu.pk
Asghar
Sajid
S
Choudhry
Muhammad Akram
MA
Akash
Muhammad Sajid Hamid
MS
ur Rehman
Nisar
N
Baksh
Sattar
S
D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D005480:Flurbiprofen / Q000737:chemistry*; D006170:Gum Arabic / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry*; D011312:Pressure; D012995:Solubility; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013607:Tablets
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D013607:Tablets; D005480:Flurbiprofen; D006170:Gum Arabic; C002563:xanthan gum