Development and Evaluation of Controlled Release Mucoadhesive Tablets of Captopril

Abstract

The present investigation focuses on the development of mucoadhesive tablets of captopril which are designed to prolong the gastric residence time after oral administration. Matrix tablets of captopril were formulated using four mucoadhesive polymers namely guar gum, xanthan gum, HPMC K4M and HPMC K15M and studied for parameters such as weight variation, thickness, hardness, content uniformity, swelling index, mucoadhesive force and in vitro drug release. Tablets formulated Xanthan gum or HPMC K4M with HPMC K15M provide slow release of captopril over period of 12 hr and were found suitable for maintenance portion of oral controlled release tablets. The cumulative % of drug release of formulation F9 and F10 were 90 and 92, respectively. In vitro release from these tablets was diffusion controlled and followed zero order kinetics. The ‘n’ values obtained from the pappas-karsemeyer equation suggested that all the formulation showed drug release by non-fickian diffusion mechanism. Tablets formulated Xanthan gum or HPMC K4M with HPMC K15M (1:1) were established to be the optimum formulation with optimum bioadhesive force, swelling index & desired invitro drug release. This product was further subjected to stability study, the results of which indicated no significant change with respect to Adhesive strength and in vitro drug release study.