COMPARATIVE PHYSICOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT POLYMERS AS A MATRIX FOR THE FORMULATION OF SUSTAINED RELEASE TABLET USING FACTORIAL DESIGN

ALAA BUR; ABDULLAH H. MAAD; YUSRA AHMED; MALAZ YOUSEF; ZUHEIR OSMAN

doi:10.22159/ijap.2025v17i4.54169

Authors

ALAA BUR Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
ABDULLAH H. MAAD Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Al-Ameed, Karbala, Iraq. Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Hodeidah University, Al-Hodeidah, Yemen https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6009-5166
YUSRA AHMED Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9668-3069
MALAZ YOUSEF Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
ZUHEIR OSMAN Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2025v17i4.54169

Keywords:

Sustained release matrix tablet, Metronidazole, Guar gum, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC)

Abstract

Objective: This research aims to evaluate and compare the physicochemical properties of various naturally occurring biocompatible polymers used as matrix materials in sustained-release tablet formulations. Metronidazole serves as the model drug in these formulations.

Methods: This study contributes to ongoing efforts to investigate the potential of natural polymers in developing drug delivery systems. Nine batches of Metronidazole matrix tablets were formulated using the wet granulation technique, incorporating varying concentrations of guar gum and Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) polymers, as well as their combination in a 4:1 ratio. A 3² full factorial statistical design was employed to assess the impact of both polymer type and concentration on the physical properties of the granules and tablets, including drug release percentage, half-life of drug release(T₅₀_%), and dissolution efficiency after 8 h.

Results: The designed factors showed a significant influence (p<0.05) on most of the responses studied, except for the polymer type, which exhibited no significant effect on the dissolution efficiency after 8 h. HPMC-based granules exhibited the best flow properties, with an angle of repose of 32.0° in F8 (HPMC 55%), the lowest Carr’s Index of 11.8, and the best Hausner ratio of 1.12, indicating superior flowability compared to Guar-based formulations. HPMC-based tablets showed the highest hardness, with F8 (HPMC 55%) achieving 7.5 kg/cm². The highest swelling index was observed in the blended formulation F9 (Guar/HPMC 55%), reaching 2.93 at 7 h, compared to 2.62 in F1 (Guar 45%) and 1.86 in F2 (HPMC 45%). F1 (Guar 45%) exhibited the highest cumulative drug release, with 89.4% released at 24 h, compared to 85.4% in F9 (Guar/HPMC 55%). The combination of Guar gum and HPMC (F9, 55%) resulted in significant release retardation compared to individual polymers. The combination of Guar gum and HPMC (F9, 55%) resulted in the longest half-life (T₅₀_%) of drug release, at 6.93 h, compared to 3.75 h in F1 (Guar 45%) and 5.27 h in F2 (HPMC 45%). Dissolution efficiency was highest in F5 (HPMC 50%), with 78.8% after 8 h, compared to 69.7% in F9 (Guar/HPMC 55%), showing that the combination of Guar gum and HPMC results in a slower release, reflected by the lower dissolution efficiency.

Conclusion: The blend of guar gum and HPMC in a 4:1 ratio provides a more effective release-retardation profile compared to guar gum alone. The formulation (F9), comprising a blend of guar gum and HPMC polymer at a higher concentration of 55%, was identified as the optimal formulation. It demonstrated favorable granule flow properties and exhibited the most effective sustained release profile.

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