A Study of the Effect of some Formulation and Preparation Variables on Drug Release from Matrix Tablets

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of some formulation and preparation variables (amount of hydrophobic polymer, amount and type of lubricant, compressive strength) on drug release from sustained-release domperidone matrix tablets prepared by wet granulation using ethylcellulose as a release-prolonging polymer. Drug release from the matrix tablets was studied in acidic medium (HCl 0.1 N) for the first 2 hours and then in phosphate buffer (pH=6.8) for the rest of the time (up to 24 hours), and the release kinetics were assessed using various mathematical models. It turned out that the total amount of drug released in acidic and phosphatic media decreases as the percentage of ethylcellulose or the compressive strength increases. Also, replacing a hydrophobic lubricant with a hydrophilic one or reducing the compressive strength increases the rate of dissolution. The release kinetics study showed that the drug was released from the prepared formulations according to Higuchi model, and the fit of the release data to Ritgger-Peppas model pointed to Fick's law of diffusion as the main release mechanism. The results of this study showed that ethylcellulose can be effectively used to prepare sustained-release domperidone matrix tablets, with the ability to prolong the release of the drug up to 24 hours by controlling not only the amount of polymer but also the compressive strength or lubricants. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.