DESIGN OF CONTROLLED RELEASE NON-ERODIBLE POLYMERIC ATENOLOL MATRIX TABLET USING MICROWAVE OVEN-ASSISTED SINTERING TECHNIQUE

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of microwave sintering condition on matrix formation and subsequent drug release from polymer matrix tablet for controlled release. The Atenolol floating SR matrix tablets were prepared by using tragacanth, sodium bicarbonate, Eudragit S-100 and citric acid was incorporated as a gas generating agents. Atenolol controlled release tablets were estimated in terms of their physico-chemical parameter like weight variation, friability, hardness, drug content, contact angle, floating lag time in-vitro drug release, specific gravity and stability study as per ICH guidelines. The results of in-vitro drug release studies showed that the optimized formulation (F6, L2, I2, H4) could extend drug release (99.5%) for 24 hours. The release pattern of Atenolol was fitted to different models based on coefficient of correlation (r). The present work also deals with the application of sintering technique to matrix tablets of Atenolol to achieve sustained release. The results of the present work stated that sintering caused decrease in drug release as compared to unsintered tablets. It was found that F6, L2, I2 and H$ gave better results compared to other formulations. The stability studies were carried out according to ICH guideline which indicates that the selected formulations were stable. Hence we finally conclude that microwave oven sintering is better than conventional hot air oven sintering process in preparation of controlled release tablets.