Abstract
Comparing the Effect of Drug, Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Other Excipients on Shape, Size and Drug Release from the Matrices
Author(s): Alhmoud Hassan, Akkam Yazan, Alhmoud Omar
Issue: Jan/Feb 2026 - Volume 30, Number 1
Page(s): 64-77
Abstract
PURPOSE: Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (NaCMC) is frequently employed in pharmaceutical formulation. Nevertheless, there are potential interactions between NaCMC and specific drugs, which may have an impact on the stability or bioavailability of those drugs.The purpose is to study the effect of drugs with different charges, anionic Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (NaCMC), excipients, and other parameters on shape, size, and drug release from controlled release matrices of three different drugs and the kinetics of drug release were investigated. METHODS: Three models of drug matrices (Flurbiprofen, naproxen sodium, and propranolol hydrochloride) were prepared using the direct compression technique with different ratios of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, other excipients, and surfactants of various solubility and charges. These were used to compare drug release from the matrices in simulated intestinal fluid pH = 7.4 and simulated gastric fluid pH = 1.2. The size and shape changes of the matrices were investigated when these tablets were placed in simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid. The mechanisms of drug release were analyzed using different models and equations. RESULTS: Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (NaCMC) had the most significant effect on controlling drug release, swelling rate, size, and shapes of the matrices of the three drugs, regardless of their solubility. The pH of the dissolution medium, surfactants and other excipients, charge, and solubility of the drug also influenced drug release, tablet size, and shape of the different formulations. CONCLUSIONS: The swelling rate of the different matrices was constrained only by NaCMC. The ratio of anionic NaCMC primarily controlled the release rate of drugs. The shape and size of the matrices, according to the solubility and charge of these drugs. Other excipients, such as surfactants, lactose, and magnesium stearate, affected the release rate of the drugs, shape and size of the matrices but did not influence their swelling rate.