2006 Volume 54 Issue 5 Pages 598-602
Percolation theory is a multidisciplinary theory that studies chaotic systems. It has been applied in the pharmaceutical field since 1987. The application of this theory to study the release and hydration rate of hydrophilic matrices allowed for first time to explain the changes in release and hydration kinetic of swellable matrices type controlled delivery systems. The objective of the present paper is to estimate the percolation threshold of HPMC K4M in matrices of lobenzarit disodium and to apply the obtained result to the design of hydrophilic matrices for the controlled delivery of this drug. The materials used to prepare the tablets were Lobenzarit disodium (LBD) and HPMC of viscosity grade K4M. The drug mean particle size was 42±0.61 μm and the polymer was sieved and 150—200 μm granulometric fraction was selected. The formulations studied were prepared with different excipient contents in the range of 10—80% w/w. Dissolution studies were carried out using the paddle method and the water uptake measurements were performed using a modified Enslin apparatus. In order to estimate the percolation threshold, the behaviour of the kinetic parameters with respect to the volumetric fraction of each component at time zero, was studied. According to percolation theory, the critical points observed in dissolution and water uptake studies are attributed to the existence of an excipient percolation threshold. This threshold was situated between (18.58 to 24.33% v/v of HPMC). Therefore, the LBD-HPMC K4M matrices with a relative HPMC particle size of should be formulated with an excipient content above 24.33% v/v of HPMC, to obtain a control of the drug release from these systems.
