FORMULATION AND IN VITRO EVALUATION OF OFLOXACIN-ETHOCEL CONTROLLED RELEASE MATRIX TABLETS PREPARED BY WET GRANULATION METHOD: INFLUENCE OF CO-EXCIPIENTS ON DRUG RELEASE RATES

Being controlled release dosage forms, tablets allow an improved absorption and release profiles of Ofloxacin. The fact that drugs with fine particles size can be compressed well after wetting, so in our research studies Ofloxacin controlled release matrix tablets were prepared by wet granulation technique. In order to investigate the potential of Ethyl cellulose ether derivatives as a matrix material, Ofloxacin formulations with different types and grades of Ethocel were prepared at several drug-to-polymer ratios. The method adopted for in vitro drug release studies was USP Method-1 (rotating Basket Method) by Pharma test dissolution apparatus using phosphate buffer 7.4 pH as a dissolution medium. Various Kinetic models were employed to the formulations for the purpose of determination of release mechanism. A comparative study was performed between the tested Ofloxacin-Ethocel formulations and a standard reference obtained from the local market. F1 dissimilarity factor and f2 similarity factor were applied to the formulations for the checking of dissimilarities and similarities between the tested formulations and reference standard.