FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF SUSTAINED-RELEASE FLOATING TABLETS OF CIPROFLOXACIN

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a sustained-release floating system that is able to float over an extended period of time. Ciprofloxacin was used as a model drug. The system consisted of a 3 mm drug-containing gas-generating core, prepared by direct compression, and coated with a flexible polymeric membrane. Eudragit RL30D and ATEC were used as a film former and a plasticizer, respectively. The coating level was fixed at 20% (w/w). The floating lag time decreased as the proportion of effervescent agents increased. The optimized coated floating tablets could float within 20 min and remained buoyant for more than 13 h. In addition, a sustained release of ciprofloxacin for more than 20 h was observed. The time to flotation could be controlled by the composition (type of filler, concentration of effervescent agents) and hardness of the tablet core and the composition (type of polymer and plasticizer) and thickness of the coating.