Vol. 1, Issue 7 (2012)

Author(s):
BK Garg*, G. Gnanarajan, P. Kothiyal

Abstract:
The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a pulsatile drug delivery system consisting of cores coated with two layers of swelling and rupturable coatings was prepared and evaluated as pulsatile drug delivery system. Cores containing Rosuvastatin calcium as model drug were prepared by direct compression of different ratios of spray-dried lactose and microcrystalline cellulose and were then coated sequentially with an inner swelling layer containing a superdisintegrant (croscarmellose sodium) and an outer rupturable layer of ethylcellulose. The effect of level of swelling layer was investigated. Rupture and dissolution tests were performed using the USP XXIV paddle method at 50 rpm in 0.1 N HCl. The lag time of the pulsatile release tablets decreased with increasing levels of swelling layer. Increasing levels of the ethylcellulose coating retarded the water uptake and thus prolonged the lag time.