SUSTAINED-RELEASE ORAL DELIVERY OF THEOPHYLLINE BY USE OF POLYVINYL-ALCOHOL AND POLYVINYL ALCOHOL-METHYL ACRYLATE POLYMERS

Crystalline polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer and low-crystallinity poly vinyl alcohol-methyl acrylate copolymer (PVA-MA) were examined as sust ained-release tablet excipients with theophylline as a model drug. By blending of different proportions of the crystalline polymer and the l ow-crystallinity copolymer, it was possible to affect the release char acteristics of the tablets. Tablets made with crystalline PVA provided instant release of theophylline in vitro. Tablets made with a larger proportion of PVA-MA relative to PVA provided a very prolonged release profile in vitro. A formulation containing PVA-MA:PVA:theophylline in a ratio of 1:9:10 provided sustained-release profiles in vitro and in vivo in dogs. The dissolution release profile of this PVA-blend table t formulation in vitro agreed extremely well with the percentage of bi oavailable dose absorbed over time in vivo. The formulation provided a plateau of levels in plasma over 16 h. The oral bioavailability of th eophylline from this formulation in dogs was similar to 80 % and was e quivalent to that obtained after administration of Theo-Dur, a markete d extended-release theophylline tablet from Key Pharmaceuticals.