EFFECT OF FORMULATION VARIABLES ON DISSOLUTION PROFILE OF DICLOFENAC SODIUM FROM ETHYLPROPYLMETHYL AND HYDROXYPROPYLMETHYL CELLULOSE TABLETS

The effects of formulation variables on the release profile of diclofe nac sodium from ethyl cellulose (EC) and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) matrix tablets were investigated. With increase in viscosity o f ethyl cellulose used in nonaqueous granulation, a decrease in drug r elease from the tablets was observed while the percentage of fines (pa rticles passed through 60 mesh) in the granulation had a significant e ffect on the dissolution profile. Granules containing 15% fines exhibi ted slow release of the drug in comparison to those containing 30% fin es with EC matrices. An analysis of kinetics of drug release from hydr ophobic EC matrix showed Fickian diffusion regulated dissolution. Drug release from HPMC tablets followed an apparent zero-order kinetics.