Hydrophilic gel-forming matrix systems are widely used in oral controlled-release dosage forms. Hydrophilic polymer hydrates form a viscous gel layer around the tablet surface, and drug release is controlled in a sustained manner by diffusion through a gel layer and the erosion of the gel (1). Drug solubility, however, greatly affects the rate of diffusion and erosion. It is especially difficult to control the release rate of highly water-soluble and insoluble drugs (2–4). Moreover, various gastrointestinal factors such as ionic strength and mechanical destructive force also affect the drug-release rate (5–8). To solve these problems or predict these influences, many studies have examined factors affecting drug release.

Figure 1 (All figures are courtesy of the authors.)

In this study, a highly functional pregelatinized starch (HS) was investigated as the potential basis for developing a hydrophilic matrix system for sustained release (9). The influence of drug solubility and external factors such as ionic strength, mechanical force, and accelerated storage conditions on the drug-release rate was evaluated. In addition, the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on drug-release profiles was investigated to obtain zero-order release profiles.

Table 1

HS was prepared by controlled thermal pregelatinization of potato starch and a spray-drying technique. It is compatible with the National Formulary, European Pharmacopoeia, and Japanese Pharmaceutical Excipients. The properties of HS are shown in Table I. HS has different properties from conventional pregelatinized starches and conventional hydrophilic gel-matrix excipients because of its high viscosity and insoluble element in dissolution media (see Figure 1).

Experimental methods

Materials. Model drugs. Ethenzamide (ETZ), acetaminophen (APAP), and sodium salicylic acid (SSA) were used as model drugs and may be characterized as water-insoluble, moderately water-soluble, and highly water-soluble drugs, respectively. All drugs were purchased from Yoshitomi Pharmaceutical (Tokyo).

Matrix excipients. HS was prepared by Asahi Kasei Chemicals (Tokyo). Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose [(HPMC) Metolose 90SH-100SR, Metolose 90SH-4000SR, Metolose 10000SR] was purchased from Shin-Etsu Chemical (Tokyo).

Other excipients. Partially pregelatinized corn starch (Starch 1500) was purchased from Colorcon (West Point, PA). Fully pregelatinized corn starch (Amycol C) and fully pregelatinized potato starch (Amycol HF) were purchased from Nippon Starch Chemical (Osaka, Japan). Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), Ceolus KG-802, was manufactured by Asahi Kasei Chemicals. PEG (Macrogol 6000) was supplied by Sanyo Chemical (Kyoto, Japan). Sorbitol (Sorbitol SP) was purchased from Kowa Pharmaceutical (Nagoya, Japan).

Evaluation of properties of modified starches and HPMC. Average particle diameter. Measurement samples of 5 g were sieved for 5 min using an air-jet JIS sieve of 20, 38, 75, and 150 µm-mesh. The weight percent remaining on each sieve after sieving was calculated, and the particle diameter was calculated as the cumulative weight percent of 50%.

Water-soluble content. Sample dispersions of 1% were prepared at 20 °C and were centrifuged for 15 min at 5000 G. The supernatant was dried at 105 °C until a constant weight was reached. The dry weight was defined as the amount of soluble content and was expressed as a percentage of the initial weight of the samples.

Viscosity. The viscosity of 2% sample dispersions was determined at 25 °C with a rotary viscometer (TVB-10, Toki Sangyo, Tokyo) using an M1 body.

Preparation of matrix tabletsA model drug, a matrix excipient, and other excipients were physically admixed. The mixtures of 180 mg were compressed using an 8.0-mm diameter round-faced punch at compression pressure of 60 MPa.

Drug-release study. The dissolution tests were carried out at 37 °C ± 0.5 °C using a USP Type 1 apparatus or a USP Type 2 apparatus rotating from 50 to 200 rpm. The test media consisted of 900 mL of second fluid of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (14th edition) (JP-2, pH 6.8, and ionic strength 0.14 M) and McIlvaine buffer (pH 7.2 and ionic strength 0.39 M).

Stability test under accelerated conditions. Dissolution profiles and the yellowness index (YI) of HS and HPMC matrix tablets were evaluated after storage at 40 °C and 75% relative humidity (RH) in sealed glass bottles, and at 60 °C in polyamine–polyethylene bags. The YI was measured by a spectrophotometer (SE200, Nippon Denshoku, Tokyo).

Results and discussion

Preliminary screening of matrix excipients: influence of α-amylase in dissolution media. Several thermally modified starches were investigated as matrix-forming excipients for sustained-release tablets (10–14). These studies pointed out that only fully pregelatinized starches functioned for the purpose of forming matrices because of their high gelling capacities (11, 13, 14). However, it was reported that matrix tablets with fully pregelatinized starch could not provide stable drug-release profiles when α-amylase was added in test media to mimic the gastrointestinal environment (11).

The influence of α-amylase on drug release from HS matrix tablets was investigated and compared with commercially available partially and fully pregelatinized starches. Four different tablets, composed of APAP, MCC, and modified starch (HS, Starch 1500, Amycol C, and Amycol HF) were tested.

Figure 2

Matrix tablets made of conventional partially pregelatinized corn starch disintegrated completely within 0.5 h, and sudden APAP release occurred. For both fully pregelatinized starches, sustained- release profiles were obtained in media without α-amylase. However, the drug-release rate from the fully pregelatinized starch matrix changed faster in media containing α-amylase. These results were the same phenomenon as described in previous work (11). On the other hand, matrix tablets made of HS were well controlled in the same way, with or without α-amylase. This situation can be explained by the high gel-forming ability of HS with high viscosity to prevent the dissolution and by the high resistance to α-amylase based on its degree of pregelatinization. HS has the same viscosity as HPMC and the moderate degree of pregelatinization between conventional partially pregelatinized starches and fully gelatinized starches (see Table I) contributes to its good balance of resistance to α-amylase and the gel-forming ability.

Based on this prescreening test, the following evaluations were done with HS and HPMC as matrix excipients: a dissolution study under high ionic-strength conditions, a dissolution study under high mechanical-force conditions, a zero-order release, and a storage stability of dissolution profiles and of tablet color.

Dissolution study under high ionic-strength conditions. The influence of ionic strength of dissolution media on APAP release rate was investigated. HS or HPMC matrix tablets containing APAP and MCC were prepared (HS or HPMC/APAP/MCC = 60%/ 10%/30%) and tested for dissolution using two media of different ionic strength: JP-2 buffer (ionic strength 0.20 M) and McIlvaine buffer (ionic strength 0.39 M).

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Table 2

Figure 8

Figure 9

Table 3

Figure 11

Figure 12

Conclusion

The authors conclude that HS can be applied for the development of sustained-release tablets. Experimental data confirmed the following points:

• Drug release from HS matrix tablets was well controlled under conditions of high ionic strength and high mechanical force
• The zero-order drug-release profile can be obtained by using a mixture of HS and PEG and is independent from drug solubility
• The HS matrix tablets show stable drug-release profiles even under accelerated conditions
• HS is a new matrix excipient that can control drug-release profiles from first- to zero-order sustained release and enables drug release independent of drug solubility and external conditions.

Masaaki Endo is an engineer, Kazuhiro Obae* is a chief engineer, and Yoshihito Yaginuma is a general manager, all in the Ceolus Research and Development Department at Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation, 1-105 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8101 Japan, obae.kb@om.asahi-kasei.co.jp

*To whom all correspondence should be addressed.

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