Effect of Cellulosic and Polymethacrylic Polymers on Drug Content, Particle Morphology, and Carbamazepine Release Profiles from Sustained Release Ethyl Cellulose Microspheres

ABSTRACT: Emulsion-solvent evaporation technique was used to prepare Carbamazepine (CBZ) loaded Ethyl Cellulose (EC) microspheres. Cellulosic polymers (HPMC 4.5 cps, 15 cps) and polymethacrylic polymers (Eudragit E100, Eudragit RL PO, Eudragit RS PO) were added with EC at 10 % (w/w) of EC. The effect of these polymers on drug content, particle size, and CBZ release rate were evaluated. The CBZ encapsulation efficiency and the drug content varied from 85 % to 95 % and from 42 % to 45 % (w/w), respectively. The mean particle diameter varied from 460 to 730 µm. In vitro release study for 8 hours was conducted in 1 % (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate solution. All the polymers reduced the release of CBZ and a statistically significant variation in release rate was observed from polymer to polymer