A new method for characterizing the release of drugs from tablets in low liquid surroundings

The purpose of this article is to introduce a method capable of determining early drug dissolution in small amounts of liquid. The method is based on the measurement of the alternating ionic current through a cell containing the dissolution medium and the substance to be dissolved. Both the initial and more prolonged absorption of liquid into tablets can also be determined by using the same technique. The method has been tested on two tablet formulations containing agglomerated micronized cellulose and NaCl as a model drug. Release of NaCl was delayed from both formulations; the extent of the delay was strongly formulation-dependent only when the surrounding liquid was in short supply. This finding shows that new drug dissolution phenomena may be encountered in small liquid volumes; these phenomena would not have been seen with the large volume methods normally used in in vitro dissolution tests. Hence, for formulations intended for sublingual, buccal, or rectal administration, i.e., in areas where liquid is scarce, in vitro dissolution tests should be performed in small volumes of dissolution medium. (C) 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.