FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF CHRONOTHERAPEUTIC DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM OF MELOXICAM

Abstract

The objective of this work is to formulate a pulsatile drug delivery system using Meloxicam drug. The drug delivery system was designed to deliver the drug in such a way that it could be most useful to the patient of rheumatoid arthritis. A core in cup (three component tablet) is prepared where in core tablet, an impermeable material surrounding the tablet except the top and soluble hydrophilic polymer layer at the top is designed. The core tablet contains Meloxicam, ethyl cellulose is used as impermeable membrane and polyethylene oxide used as soluble hydrophilic polymer layer. The release profile of press coated tablet exhibited a lag time followed by burst release, in which outer shell ruptured into two halves. The effect of the core, the polymer characteristics and quantity at the top cover layer, on the lag time and drug release was investigated. The prepared tablets were evaluated for uniformity of weight, hardness, friability, wetting time, in-vitro disintegration time, stability study and drug release study. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study showed compatibility between Meloxicam and coating material.