INVITRO AND INVIVO EVALUATION OF AN ORAL SUSTAINED-RELEASE FLOATING DOSAGE FORM OF AMOXICILLIN TRIHYDRATE

Various hydrophilic polymers were investigated for the preparation of amoxycillin trihydrate sustained-release (SR) tablets. The most suitable system contained a 1:2 ratio of hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) to drug, which compressed easily and was not affected by alteration in normal compaction pressure. Intrinsic dissolution studies at pH 2 showed that reduction in drug loading decreased drug release, which being linear with time was characteristic of an eroding matrix with a hydrated layer. Examination of compacts over a wider range of pH showed the slowest rate of drug release at pH 6, corresponding to minimum solubility of the drug. Further formulation to enhance gastric retention time (GRT), by incorporation of a gas-generating system, yielded either bilayer tablets which prematurely failed or large single-layer tablets which remained buoyant for 6 h and had satisfactory in vitro SR. However, when the latter tablets were compared against conventional capsules in fasted humans at 500 mg equivalent dose of amoxycillin, their relative bioavailability was reduced to 80.5% and other pharmacokinetic parameters indicated lack of improved efficacy.