Wet granulation fine particle ethylcellulose tablets: Effect of production variables and mathematical modeling of drug release

In the present study, the applicability of fine particle ethylcellulose (FPEC) to produce matrix tablets by a wet granulation technique was evaluated. The effect of various formulation and process variables, such as FPEC content, hardness of the tablet, and solubility of the drug, on the release of drug from these tablets was examined. Tablets were prepared by wet granulation of drug and FPEC in an appropriate mass ratio. Theophylline, caffeine, and dyphylline were selected as nonionizable model drugs with solubilities from 8.3 to 330 mg/mL at 25°C. Ibuprofen, phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride, and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride were selected as ionizable drugs with solubilities from 0.1 to 2000 mg/mL at 25°C. Drug release studies were conducted in 37°C water with UV detection. As the FPEC content and the hardness of the tablets increased, the release rate of the drug decreased. The drug release rate increased with an increase in the solubility of the drug. Model equations, intended to elucidate the drug release mechanism, were fitted to the release data. Parameters were generated and data presented by SAS software. The Akaike Information Criterion was also considered to ascertain the best-fit equation. Fickian diffusion and polymer relaxation were the release mechanisms for nonionizable and ionizable drugs.