COMPARATIVE EVALUATION STUDY OF MATRIX PROPERTIES OF NATURAL GUMS AND SEMI-SYN- THETIC POLYMER

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the granulation and tablet properties of natural gums with the extensively investigated hydrophilic matrices hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as suitable hydrophilic matrix systems. Methods: The granules were prepared by wet granulation method and granulation properties like angle of repose, bulk density, tapped density, Carr’s compressibility index, Hausner’s ratio and drug content were compared. Various sustained release matrices of prepared granules were prepared using HPMC (F1), Guar gum (F2), Xanthan Gum (F3), Locust bean gum (F4) and chitosan (F5). The matrix tablets were evaluated for uniformity of weight, content of active ingredient, friability, hardness, thickness and in vitro dissolution using USP XXIV dissolution apparatus. Results: All the formulations showed compliance with pharmacopoeial standards. A significant difference in release pattern was observed between the formulation F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5. F1, F3 and F5 release almost ~9 % compare to initial burst effect of ~31 % for F4 and F2 after 1h of dissolution period. At the end of 8 h of dissolution period it was found that 71.36%, 85.91%, 96.98%, 68.76 % and 45.5 % of drug release for F2, F4, F5, F3 and F1, respectively. Conclusions: Thus, natural gums show granulation and tablet properties that are similar to those of the extensively investigated hydrophilic matrices, HPMC. This suggests that the natural gums may be an ideal candidate in the formulation of matrix tablets on controlled drug delivery