Hot melt extruded polysaccharide blends for controlled drug delivery

Different types of hot melt extrudates were prepared based on a variety of blends of ethylcellulose with a 2nd polysaccharide, namely hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), pectin, maize starch, inulin, maltodextrin, guar gum, and chitosan.

In selected cases, the polymer:polymer blend ratio was varied from 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 30:70 to 20:80. The addition of appropriate amounts of plasticizers allowed reducing the extrusion temperature to about 100 °C. The impacts of the screw speed, extrusion temperature, amount and type of plasticizer as well as of the amount and type of drug (10–60% theophylline or diprophylline) were studied. Drug release was measured in 0.1 M HCl for 2 h, followed by phosphate buffer pH 6.8 and (optionally) fecal samples to simulate the colon (under anaerobic conditions).

DSC measurements and optical microscopy were used to characterize the physical state and morphology of the systems. Interestingly, hot melt extrudates based on ethylcellulose:guar gum blends could be easily prepared at a temperature of 100 °C and offered large spectra of drug release patterns for both: slightly water-soluble theophylline as well as freely water-soluble diprophylline.

About constant drug release rates could be obtained during prolonged periods of time. Importantly, the resulting drug release rates from hot melt extrudates based on ethylcellulose:guar gum 80:20 blends were similar in the presence and absence of colonic bacteria, indicating that the ethylcellulose seems to protect the guar gum from degradation upon exposure to fecal samples. Furthermore, these systems were long term stable for at least 1 year under ambient conditions. Thus, they can offer an interesting potential as oral controlled drug delivery systems.

Author links open overlay panelY.Benzine, F.Siepmann, C.Neut, F.Danede, J.F.Willart, J.Siepmann, Y.Karrout