In vitro Release Kinetics Study of Ranolazine from Swellable Hydrophilic Matrix Tablets
The objective of this study was to design oral sustained release matrix tablets of Ranolazine usinghydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as the retardant polymer and to study the effect of formulation factors suchas polymer proportion and polymer viscosity on the release of drug. In vitro release studies were performed usingUSP type II apparatus (paddle method) in 900 mL of 0.1N HCl at 100 rpm for 12 hours. The release kinetics wasanalyzed using the zero-order, first order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas equations to explore and explain themechanism of drug release from the matrix tablets. In vitro release studies revealed that the release rate decreasedwith increase in polymer proportion and viscosity grade. Mathematical analysis of the release kinetics indicated thatthe nature of drug release from the matrix tablets was dependent on drug diffusion and polymer relaxation andtherefore followed non-Fickian or anomalous release. The developed controlled release matrix tablets of Ranolazineprepared with high viscosity HPMC extended release up to 12 hours.Key words: Ranolazine; Sustained release; Methocel E50 Premium LV; Methocel K100LV CR; Methocel K4M CR;Methocel K15M CR.DOI: 10.3329/dujps.v8i1.5333Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 8(1): 31-38, 2009 (June)