This study has investigated the drug release mechanisms from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) hydrophilic matrices. A hypothesis was developed from interpretation of a previous study that drug surface activity has an influence on drug liberation. The validity of the hypothesis was tested by studying the interactions between HPMC and the two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs diclofenac Na and meclofenamate Na, using tensiometry, rheology, NMR, neutron scattering and turbimetry. Meclofenamate Na was found to interact with HPMC, resulting in detectable changes in drug diffusion coefficients and polymer structure in solution. There were increases in HPMC solution solubility and changes in viscoelasticity, which suggested drug solubilisation of the methoxyl-rich regions of the polymer chains. Diclofenac Na did not show evidence of an interaction and exhibited changes consistent with a 'salting out' of the polymer. A confocal microscopy technique was used to image the drug effects on early gel layer development. The presence of drugs affected gel layer development, depending on the level of drug in the matrix and the concentration of sodium chloride in the hydration medium. Diclofenac Na matrices became increasingly susceptible to disintegration, while meclofenamate Na matrices exhibited resistance to the effects of sodium chloride. The influence of incorporated diluents on the gel layer was also investigated and it was found that lactose had a disruptive effect, whereas microcrystalline cellulose was relatively benign. When co-formulating drugs and diluents in the matrix, lactose acted to antagonise the effect of meclofenamate, but acted synergistically with diclofenac to reduce gel layer integrity and accelerate matrix disintegration. In contrast, MCC was found to have a relatively neutral effect on drug-mediated effects. HPMC particle swelling and coalescence are critical processes in gel layer formation extending drug release. Drug surface activity and capability of interacting with HPMC appears to influence particle swelling processes, affecting gel layer formation and provides a mechanistic explanation for the differing release profiles of diclofenac and meclofenamate Na.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:537667 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Pygall, Samuel R. |
| Publisher | University of Nottingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/14128/ |
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