Putta Rajesh Kumar, Hiremath Doddayya, S. Rajendra Reddy

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop enteric coated esomeprazole core tablet followed by compression coating with clarithromycin coat granules to obtain a single unit core in coat floating tablet. The tablets were prepared by investigating various porous carriers, cellulosic polymers and natural gums. Sodium bicarbonate is used as gas generating agent. The enteric coating of core tablet showed significant protection of esomeprazole from gastric acid by acryl EZE and in vitro release of drug in simulated intestinal fluid. The rheological and compressional parameters of the core powder and coat granular beds showed their ease of flow and compaction in to tablet. The tablets showed optimum floating parameters with minimum floating lag time. In vitro dissolution in modified dissolution apparatus indicated the clarithromycin release in simulated gastric fluid for first 2h and esomeprazole in simulated intestinal fluid for 10h. A zero order drug release was observed for clarithromycin coat and first order drug release for esomeprazole. Porous carriers, HPMC and natural gums as matrix polymers optimization studies indicated their suitability for floating tablet formulations. The dosage forms could be further evaluated for pharmacokinetic studies to study actual drug release in vivo.