FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND INVITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF BILAYERED MATRIX TABLETS OF METOPROLOL TARTRATE AND METFORMIN HYDROCHLORIDE

Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is one of the complex metabolic disorders with multiple effects. Hypertension is one of the major and common conditions that is associated with it. In the present study, attempts were made to formulate a dosage form which is a combination of both anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive agents. Metoprolol tartrate was formulated in IR Layer using disintegrants and Metformin was formulated in CR layer using natural gums and Eudragit RLPO. The evaluation tests of both formulations were conducted and dissolution study of optimized bilayered formulation has revealed that the formulations can offer a bimodal release, i.e., Metoprolol was found to be 97.42% within 2 hrs and Metformin from CR layer was 98.45% at the end of 24 hrs. Kinetic studies showed good linearity with Zero order Kinetics (Regression coefficient-0.982) and Korsemeyer Peppas model for release mechanism (Regression coefficient-0.996, n-0.758) indicating super case II transport. Hence these bilayer formulations may be considered suitable for the treatment of Diabetes associated Hypertension. Key Words: Bilayer tablets, Metformin Hydrochloride, Metoprolol tartrate, Combination therapy