IN-VITRO RELEASE OF ACETAMINOPHEN FROM SODIUM ALGINATE CONTROLLED-RELEASE PELLETS

The production of spheres loaded with acetaminophen by the cross linking technique was achieved. The hydrophilic polymer sodium alginate which gels in presence of a cross linking ion was used as a matrix for the spheres production. Two processing variables were studied. The drug load in the formula which varied from 5% w/v to 20% w/v, and the cross linking agents used; calcium chloride, calcium acetate, and aluminum sulfate. Also the effects of the dissolution medium and the rotational speed of the dissolution apparatus on drug release were investigated. Spheres were compacted into 450 mg tablets without the aid of excipients. The drug release from spheres containing 20% w/v drug was 90% after 6 hours, while the drug release from compacts of these spheres was 90%; after 12 hours. The mechanism of drug release from spheres and compacts containing 20% w/v drug and prepared with 5% w/v cross linking material followed the diffusion controlled model for inert porous matrix.