Development of Taste-Masked Oral Dispersible Tablets of Cefpodoxime Proxetil

Peer-Reviewed

Submitted: June 8, 2023.
Accepted: January 5, 2024.

Abstract

Cefpodoxime proxetil (CFPD PRXL) is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic with broad-spectrum activity. However, its bitter taste often leads to poor patient compliance. This study aimed to develop a taste-masked drug resin complex (DRC) using the ion exchange resin Kyron T-114. Various variables, including resin ratio, pH, temperature, soaking time, and stirring time, were investigated for their impact on drug loading and taste reduction. A dispersible tablet was then formulated using the DRC and other pharmaceutical excipients. The formulated tablet underwent evaluation for weight variation, hardness, dimension uniformity, friability, content uniformity, wetting time, in-vitro disintegration time, and in-vitro drug release. Results demonstrated that the wetting and disintegration times of the tablets, as well as the in-vitro drug release, were comparable to those of the commercially available CFPD PRXL product. In conclusion, the developed method for taste masking CFPD PRXL and preparing orodispersible tablets proved to be simple, cost-effective, and potentially suitable for industrial application.

Introduction

Cefpodoxime proxetil (CFPD PRXL) is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic with broad-spectrum activity commonly prescribed in both solid and liquid forms to treat various bacterial infections, including upper respiratory infections, ear infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections (1–3). However, its extremely bitter taste poses a challenge for patient compliance, particularly among pediatric and geriatric populations. Solid dosage forms such as tablets are frequently used for these patients (1–3).

Ion exchange resins are solid, high-molecular weight polyelectrolytes that can reversibly and stoichiometrically exchange their mobile ions with the surrounding medium. These resins are available in various sizes and can be utilized to adsorb bitter cationic drugs onto weak cation exchange resins containing carboxylic acid. This interaction forms a complex that effectively masks the bitterness of active ingredients (4). Resinates can then be formulated into lozenges, chewing gum, suspensions, or dispersible tablets, effectively concealing the taste (3).

The binding of drugs to the resin can be achieved through repeated exposure or prolonged contact with the resin. By forming weak ionic bonds between the drugs and the oppositely charged resin substrates or resinates, the drug-resin complex (DRC) remains stable under salivary pH conditions, successfully masking the unpleasant taste and odor of the drugs.

The objective of this study was to incorporate the DRC into a dispersible tablet to enhance patient compliance (5–6). In a previous study, the preparation and evaluation of the DRC was performed using Kyron T-114, a weak acid derivative of methyl acrylic acid cross-linked polymer having a carboxylic acid functional group, which is responsible for its taste masking property for a pharmaceutical suspension; however, its use in tablet formulation was not investigated. Therefore, the specific objective of this present study was to develop and evaluate an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) of CFPD PRXL using the optimized DRC that were utilized for suspension formulation (6).

About the authors

Gayatri Patel* is professor, gayatripatel26@gmail.com, and Divyangi Patel is a research scholar, both at Charotar University of Science and Technology, Ramanbhai Patel College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Technology, CHARUSAT Campus, Changa-388421, Gujarat, India.
*To whom all correspondence should be addressed.

Article details

Pharmaceutical Technology^®
Vol. 48, No. 3
March 2024
Pages: 22–26

Citation

When referring to this article, please cite it as Patel, G.; Patel, D. Development of Taste-Masked Oral Dispersible Tablets of Cefpodoxime Proxetil. Pharmaceutical Technology, 2024, 48 (3) 22–26.