RESUMEN
Purpose: A study was made of the effects of some bases and adjuvants on the physical and release properties of metronidazole suppositories with a view to providing more information for the optimization of the rectal formulation of metronidazole. Method: Suppositories (1g) containing 200mg of metronidazole each were prepared in witepsol (H15 and E75) and polyethylene glycol (PEG 2850 and 4650) bases; using different concentrations of Tween 80; sodium salicylate and methylcellulose as adjuvants. The setting time; solidification point and melting range of the suppositories were determined; along with their crushing strength; disintegration time and the time for 80of metronidazole to be released from the suppositories (t80). Results: The ranking of setting time for the suppositories was witepsol H15 PEG 2850 witepsol E75 PEG 4650; while the ranking of solidification point; melting range; crushing strength; disintegration time and the time for 80of metronidazole to be released from the suppositories (t80) was the reverse of that for setting time. Optimal concentrations of Tween 80 and sodium salicylate were observed for the suppository formulations. Using Kitazawa plots; all formulations showed two dissolution rate constants; k1 and k2 intersecting at time t1; with formulations containing 5 to 20w/w of methylcellulose exhibiting a third dissolution rate constant; k3 intersecting with k2 at time t2. Conclusion: The physical and release properties of metronidazole sup-positories are influenced considerably by the bases and adjuvants employed. Tween 80 and sodium salicylate can probably be used to formulate only immediate-release supposi- tories while methylcellulose can be useful for sustained-release metronidazole suppositories. Some insight into these inferences can be obtained from parameters derived from Kitazawa plots
Asunto(s)
Adyuvantes Farmacéuticos , Metronidazol/química , SupositoriosRESUMEN
A study of the effects of Tween 20 and Tween 80 non-ionic surfactants, and witepsol H15 and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 2850 bases, on the mechanical and release properties of metronidazole suppositories was made. Mechanical strength was assessed by breaking strength values F. The values of F increased with increase in concentration of surfactant. The values of F for formulations containing Tween 20 were higher than those obtained for formulations containing Tween 80. Witepsol bases gave higher values of F than corresponding PEG bases. Release characteristics were assessed by the time for 80% drug release (t80), values of dissolution rate constants, k1 and k2 and the time of intersection, t1. The values of t80 decreased while those of k1 and k2 increased with increase in surfactant concentration. The values of t80 were lower, while those of k1 and k2 were higher, for formulations containing Tween 20 than for those formulations containing Tween 80. Witepsol bases gave lower t80 values and higher k1 and k2 values than their corresponding PEG bases. The concentration of surfactant, C, had the largest individual effect on the mechanical and release parameters while the nature of surfactant, S, had the lowest. The ranking for the individual effects of the variables on F and k1 was C > N >> S, on t80 and k2 was C >> N approximately = S, was on t1 was C = N = S. The interactions between S and C were largest for F, t80 and k2, and lowest for k1 and t1. The ranking of the interaction effects of the variables on F and k2 was S-C > N-C > N-S, on t80 was S-C > N-S approximately = N-C, on k1 was N-C > N-S > S-C, and on t1 was N-S = N-C > S-C. The results suggest that the individual and interaction effects of formulation variables would provide useful guides in optimizing metronidazole suppository formulations.