Effect of microenvironment pH of swellable and erodable buffered matrices on the release characteristics of diclofenac sodium.

The aim of this work is to design pH-dependent swellable and erodable-buffered matrices and to study the effect of the microenvironment pH on the release pattern of diclofenac sodium. Buffered matrix tablets containing diclofenac sodium, physically mixed with hydrophilic polymer (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose [HPMC]) and pH-dependent solubility polymer (Eudragit L100-55) were prepared with different microenvironment pHs. The release of diclofenac sodium from the buffer matrices was studied in phosphate buffer solutions of pH 5.9 and 7.4. The swelling and erosion matrices containing only HPMC and Eudragit L100-55 were studied in phosphate buffer solution of pH similar to the microenvironment pHs of the matrices. Drug release from matrices was found to be linear as a function of time. Amount of drug released was found to be higher in the medium of pH 7.4 than that of pH 5.9. The rate of drug release increased with the increase of the microenvironment pH of the matrices as determined from the slope. The pattern of drug release did not change with the change of microenvironment pH. The swelling and erosion occurred simultaneously from matrices made up of HPMC and Eudragit L100-55. Both extent of swelling and erosion increased with increase of the medium pH. It was concluded from this study that changing the pH within the matrix influenced the rate of release of the drug without affecting the release pattern.