FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF HYDROGEL BASED ORAL CONTROLLED DRUG DELIVERY OF RITONAVIR

Abstract

Hydrogel matrix tablets of Ritonavir were formulated using guar gum, chitosan and HPMC of various grades such as K4M, K15M, and K100M With the aim to study drug release kinetics and to attain a near zero order release. Tablet formulations were prepared by direct compression technique and were evaluated for precompression and post compression parameters. In-vitro dissolution studies were carried out using USP type II dissolution test apparatus. Among different formulations of direct compression containing drug to polymer ratio 1:1 and polymers guar gum and chitosan used in combination (3:1 ratio) gives best dissolution profile and dissolution efficiency and among tablet formulations compared with other formulations. The best-fit release kinetics was achieved with the zero-order plot. Guar Gum and chitosan as a combination (3:1 ratio) are found to be with good physical integrity, free from any drug‐polymer interaction and provided a method of achieving controlled drug action through uniform drug release upto 10 hours.