Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences

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CHARACTERISATION AND CONTROLLED RELEASE PROPERTIES OF ENTANDOPHRAGMA ANGOLENSE GUM IN IBUPROFEN MATRIX TABLETS

OLADAPO A ADETUNJI, MICHAEL A ODENIYI*, OLUDELE A ITIOLA

Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

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A novel hydrophilic polymer, Entandophragma angolense gum (ENTA), was characterized and incorporated as excipient in Ibuprofen tablet matrices prepared by direct compression. Comparisons were made with formulations incorporating Gelatin or Hydroxypropylcellulose. The gum was analysed by X-ray Diffraction and drug-polymer interactions were assessed by Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometric studies. Mechanical properties of matrices were assessed using crushing strength (CS) and friability (F). In vitro drug release studies were conducted for 24 hours at 37 ºC in phosphate buffer pH 7.2 dissolution medium. The results were fitted into kinetic models to determine the drug release mechanism. There were no interactions between Ibuprofen and ENTA. Increased polymer content led to an increase in CS and a decrease in F values. The ranking of the CS was Hydroxypropylcellulose > ENTA > Gelatin, while the ranking was reversed for F. The ranking of the time for 25% drug release, at 80%w/w polymer concentration was ENTA > Hydroxypropylcellulose > Gelatin. The release kinetics determined using the Akaike criterion Index indicate Korsemeyer supercase II model at high concentrations of the gum. Incorporation of Entandophragma angolense gum enhanced the mechanical properties of Ibuprofen matrix tablets and also the controlled drug release.