Effects of Surfactant on Release Characteristics of Clonidine Hydrochloride from Ethylcellulose Film

Abstract

The effects of Tween 80 (polysorbate 80) and Span 80 (sorbitan monooleate) surfactants on release characteristics of clonidine hydrochloride from ethylcellulose 10 and 20 cps matrix films containing castor oil as a plasticizer were investigated. The release rates of drug from these films in water at 37°C were found to increase with the addition of surfactant, which was highest for the film prepared from ethylcellulose 20 cps with Tween 80. The experimental values of the cumulative amount of drug released were found to conform to the solution matrix model. The calculated values of the cumulative amount of clonidine hydrochloride released using the experimentally determined diffusion coefficients were also found to be in good agreement with the observed values.