Controlled Release from Glycerol Palmito-Stearate Matrices Prepared by Dry-Heat Granulation and Compression at Elevated Temperature

Abstract

Diprophylline release from glycerol palmito-stearate “precirol” matrices containing different direct compression (DC) excipients, with variable dissolving/disintegrating ability, is investigated. The matrices are formed by employing dry-heat granulation and compression at elevated temperature.

Greater drug release prolongation is achieved with the dissolving DC excipients than with the swelling ones. The release is described on the basis of two biexponential first order models and the Weibull function as well.

The effect of compression conditions (temperature and pressure) on the drug release is found to be related to the compaction behaviour of the DC excipients, i.e. plastic deformation or fragmentation.