An investigation into the drug release from ibuprofen matrix tablets with ethylcellulose and some poly-acrylate polymers.

This study was performed to achieve sustained-release Ibuprofen matrix tablets with a zero-order release kinetic while most of the previous formulations have shown Higuchi release kinetic. Considering the results from previous studies, ethyl cellulose, Carbopol 934P, Carbopol 974P, and Pemulen TR-1 were used at different amounts for preparation of the tablets by direct compression. The release profiles were studied in a two-stage release test using non-linear regression analysis. Carbopols 934P and 974P could not sustain the release adequately while Pemulen TR-1 had too strong sustaining effect. Therefore, combination formulations were considered and studied. The release profiles of ethyl cellulose formulation and the combination formulation consisting Carbopol 934P and Pemulen TR-1 best fitted in Higuchi model, although the zero-order model was not completely rejected. However, the kinetic model of release from the combination formulation consisting Carbopol 974P and Pemulen TR-1 changed to zero-order indicating the most constant release rate among formulations. This was speculated to be due to some erosion of the gel, as well as some interaction of the hydrophobic chain of Pemulen TR-1 with Ibuprofen. Therefore, this formulation is suggested for directly compressed sustained-release matrix tablets of Ibuprofen with a more constant release rate.