Abstract
Pulsatile drug delivery system is the most interesting time and site specific system. This system is designed for chronopharmacotherapy which is based on the circardian rhythm. The present study is aiming at the development of Chronotherapy designed according to the chronological behavior of body. Although oral delivery has become a widely accepted route of administration of therapeutic drugs, the gastrointestinal tract presents several formidable barriers to drug delivery. In this study our aim was to develop and evaluate an oral pulsatile drug delivery system of salbutamol in capsule device. Cores containing salbutamol as model drug were prepared by granulation of different disintigrants Croscarmellose sodium and microcrystalline cellulose. Then the treatment of gelatin capsule bodies with formaldehyde and filling the granules into the capsule bodies. The coating material Eudragit RL 100 was used in different concentration. The five formulations of different concentrations were prepared by using drug and polymer. Coating material used in coating of capsule body. Finally the prepared formulation was evaluated for all evaluation parameters like hardness, dissolution, disintegration and other parameters. Salbutamol release from pulsatile capsule was studied. Dissolution showed that the enteric coat of the Eudragit RL100 was intact for 2 hrs in pH 1.2 but dissolved in intestinal pH and also dissolved in pH 7.4, thus leaving the soluble cap of capsule. Exposed polymer plug absorbed the surrounding fluid got swelled and drug was release.
Keywords: Pulsatile drug delivery system, salbutamol, chronotherapy, circardian rhythm, Eudragit RL100, Croscarmellose.