Formulation and Evaluation of Floating Matrix Tablets of Sacubitril and Valsartan

Abstract

Floating Drug Delivery Systems (FDDS) have a bulk density lower than gastric fluids and thus remain buoyant in the stomach for a prolonged period of time, without affecting the gastric emptying rate. While the system is floating on the gastric contents, the drug is released slowly at a desired rate from the system. These floating tablets mainly prepared for reduction of lag time and release the drug up to 12 hours and may also increase the bioavailability of the drugs by utilizing the drug to full extent avoiding unnecessary frequency of dosing. The purpose of this research was to develop and evaluated floating matrix tablets of sacubitril and valsartan. The floating matrix tablets of sacubitril and valsartan were prepared by direct compression method using altered concentrations of HPMC K4M, HPMC K100M, sodium alginate as polymers and sodium bicarbonate, citric acid as gas generating agent. FTIR, DSC studies conformed that there was no incompatibility between the polymers and the drug. Tablet preformulation parameters were within the pharmacopoeias limit. Tablets were evaluated by different parameters such as weight uniformity, content uniformity, thickness, hardness, in vitro release studies, buoyancy determination and kinetic analysis of dissolution data. The varying concentration of gas generating agent and polymers was found to affect on in-vitro drug release and floating lag time. Tablet showed ≤ 1min lag time, continuance of buoyancy for >12 h. The in-vitro drug release pattern of sacubitril and valsartan optimized floating tablets (F16) was fitted to different kinetic models which showed highest regression (r2 = 0.9838) for Higuchi model. The Optimized formulation (F16) showed no significant change in physical appearance, drug content, floating lag time, in vitro dissolution studies after 75%±5% RH at 40±20C relative humidity for 6 months.  Prepared floating tablets of sacubitril and valsartan may prove to be a potential candidate for safe and effective controlled drug delivery over an extended period of time for gastro retentive drug delivery system.