RELEASE OF CEFUROXIME AXETIL FROM MATRIX TABLETS – EFFECT OF DIFFERENT HIGH VISCOSITY HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE POLYMERS ON IN VITRO EXTENDED RELEASE

Extended release hydrophilic matrix tablet formulations of cefuroxime axetil were developed and evaluated to observe the effect of different high viscosity hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (Methocel^® K100M, K100M CR and K100LV CR) polymers on in vitro drug release. Fifteen different formulations (F1-F15) were prepared by direct compression. The results of the physical parameters and assay were found to be within the acceptable range of USP 36/NF 31. In vitro dissolution of each formulation, suitably compressed with 9.50±1.10 to 13.47±1.29 Kg hardness were performed in 0.07N HCl, distilled water, 0.1N HCl of pH 1.2 and phosphate buffers of pH 4.5 and 6.8 to observe the drug release. The drug release was higher with K100 LV CR polymer (F14, F15) as compare to K100M and K100M CR in 0.07N HCl (74.22%±0.69 for F14 and 83.57%±0.71 for F15) and in distilled water medium (65.19%±0.78 for F14 and 79.66%±1.05 for F15). The drug release rate from tablets containing K100LV CR was effectively controlled by decreasing the polymer concentration from 30-10%. Model-dependent method were used for data analysis and the best results were observed for F15 (K100LV CR 10%) in Higuchi (R²=0.938-0.981), Korsmeyer–Peppas (R²=0.941-0.982) and Weibull model (R²=0.978-0.997) with non-Fickian release mechanism (n =0.436-0.553). R Gui^® applied for stability studies shows the results of F15 formulation with shelf life 28 and 13 months at ambient and accelerated temperature respectively.