DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF EUDRAGIT COATED LOSARTAN POTASSIUM CONTROLLED RELEASE PELLETS BY PAN COATING TECHNIQUE

摘要

The present investigation was focused on the development and evaluation of controlled release pellets of losartan potassium with Eudragit S 100 and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate (HPMCP) by employing pan coating technique. Eudragit S 100, a high viscosity grade controlled release polymer, was mainly used as coating agent for regulating the drug release from pellets. HPMCP, an enteric coating polymer was used in the present study to regulate the drug release at varied G.I. pH conditions. The prepared pellets were evaluated for particle size, drug content, friability and for in vitro drug release. The formulations were further characterized to identify any possible interactions by FTIR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The surface morphology of the pellets was studied by scanning electron microscopy. From the results it was observed that due to increase in the concentration of Eudragit the drug release was extended up to 12 hours. The increase in the HPMCP polymeric concentration in formulations showed initial delay in drug release.