An oral controlled release system for amroxol hydrochloride containing a wax and a water insoluble polymer

Abstract

This study was carried out to develop and optimize oral sustained-release formulations for Ambroxol hydrochloride matrix pellets using a combination of wax and water-insoluble polymer, glyceryl behenate (Compritol 888 ATO) and Ethylcellulose (EC_{7 FP}). It involved three factors: the content of Compritol 888 ATO (X₁), EC_{7 FP} (X₂), and the matrix formation methods (X₃), as independent variables. The drug release percentages at 1, 2 and 4 h were the target responses and were restricted to 15–45% (Y₁), 45–80% (Y₂) and 80–100% (Y₃), respectively. The final blend formulation prepared by extrusion spheronization, was achieved with 27.00% (w/w) Ambroxol hydrochloride, 48.70% (w/w) Compritol 888 ATO, and 24.30% (w/w) EC_{7 Fp} with 40°C for 12 h. Comparing the single matrix materials consisting of just the wax or water-insoluble in the complex matrix system containing wax and water-insoluble polymer, the release of the drug can be far more retarded, when the formulations have undergone the process of heat treatment. Furthermore, the combination of the two polymers, with flexible matrix formation methods, will offer a very promising way of producing matrix pellets instead of coated controlled-release pellets to meet various demands of drug release.

Keywords::

• Ambroxol hydrochloride
• glyceryl behenate
• Ethylcellulose
• matrix formation method
• matrix pellets

Acknowledgments

Dr. David is gratefully thanked for correcting the manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.