Controlled Release Multiparticulate Beads Coated with Starch Acetate: Material Characterization, and Identification of Critical Formulation and Process Variables

The objectives of the present investigation were to prepare and characterize starch acetate (SA) with high degree of substitution (dS) and to study its prospect as film-forming agent in a controlled-release multiparticulate drug delivery system. As a part of the development process by quality by design, the objectives also included identification of critical formulation and process variables that affect the release of a drug. SA, a relatively new polymer, was characterized because it showed good film-forming properties. SA with dS 2.9 was synthesized from corn starch by paste disruption technique. It was compared with the raw material, starch, by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and molecular mass analysis. Viscosity of SA solution increased logarithmically with the polymer concentration. At higher polymer concentrations (1.5-5.0%), the solutions showed pseudoplastic behavior. Among the plasticizers tested, triacetin and triethyl citrate yielded free films with acceptable mechanical properties. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the films could be well controlled by these plasticizers. Unplasticized film showed a Tg of 31.8°C. A trend was found that increase in triacetin concentration in SA films resulted in increase in permeability coefficient for tritiated water. Scanning electron microscopic photographs showed a clear and smooth plasticized film compared to rough unplasticized film. Dyphylline-loaded beads were coated with highly substituted SA to evaluate the main effects of the formulation and process variables on the release of the drug and to figure out the reliability of the screening design. A seven-factor, twelve-run Plackett-Burman screening design was used. The response variables were cumulative percent of drug released in 0.5, 1, 4, 8, and 12 hr. Quantitative evaluation of the design revealed that coating weight gain, plasticizer concentration, and post-drying temperature had greater influence on the drug release than the others. The main effects on drug release after 12 hr decreased in the following order: coating weight gain (−7.81), plasticizer concentration (4.96), postdrying temperature (−2.51), SA concentration (−0.80), inlet temperature (0.51), postdrying time (−0.31), and atomizing pressure (−0.28).