Release of Theophylline from Ethyl Cellulose Mecrocapsues Alone and in Conjuction with Fat Embedded (Precirol®) Granules and Hydroxypropyl Methycellulose

Abstract Microcapsules of theophylline with ethyl cellulose were prepared by coacervation technique using cabosil® (silicon dioxide) as separant. Tablets were prepared from microcapsules, microcapsules + theophylline fat embedded granules, and microcapsules and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 4000 (HPMC). Release was studied in vitro by the rotating basket method. Prolonged release of theophylline was observed from microcapsules with no drug dumping. The release from microcapsules was of first-order whereas that from all the tablet formulation was diffusion controlled according to the Higuchi model. Good correlation was found between release rate and core:wall ratio for all the systems. Decrease in hardness of tablets made from microcapsules alone decreased the release rate, indicating damage of microcapsules during compression. The tablets compressed from fat embedded granules, microcapsules with fat embedded granules, and microcapsules with HPMC gave a desired release for a 74 hour sustained release preparation.