Research Paper Design and Development of Prochlorperazine Maleate Sustained Release Tablets: Influence of Hydrophilic Polymers on the Release rate and In vitro Evaluation

The objective of the present investigation was to develop and evaluate sustained release matrix tablets of prochlorperazine maleate employing different types and levels of hydrophilic matrix agents namely hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), carbopol and combination of these polymers by wet granulation technique. Prior to compression process, the prepared granules were evaluated for its flow and compression characteristics. The in vitro dissolution of the newly formulated sustained release tablets were compared with standard formulation. The excipients used in this study did not alter the physicochemical properties of the drug, as indicated by the thermal analysis using differential scanning calorimetry technique. The flow and compression characteristics of the prepared granules significantly improved by virtue of granulation process. Also, the prepared matrix tablets showed good mechanical properties in terms of hardness and friability. HPMC based tablet formulations alone showed high release retarding efficiency as compared to carbopol, carbopol and HPMC combinations. The studies indicated that the drug release can be modulated by varying concentrations of polymers. Mathematical analysis of the release kinetics indicated the nature of the drug release from the matrix tablets followed quasifickian obeying first order kinetics.