Formulation Development and Evaluation of Multiple Unit Pellet System of Tamsulosin Hydrochloride

The aim of current work was to grow extended release multiple unit pellets of Tamsulosin Hydrochloride, is an alpha-blocker, used for the healing of the symptoms of a prostate gland condition called BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) by extrusion- spheronization (E/S) and solution/suspension layering (S/S) method. In the Extrusion-Spheronization, A ratio of 75:25, 67:33, 64:36 Tamsulosin Hydrochloride and Microcrystalline cellulose were mixed for making drug pellets and extended release (ER) coating was performed in fluidized bed processor (FBP) by solution/suspension layering with Ethyl cellulose (aqueous. dispersion, 4 cps and 7 cps) and Hypromellose (5cps) with different ratios % weight buildups accordingly. In the Solution/suspension layering (S/S) method, Tamsulosin Hydrochloride drug pellets were prepared by layering onto MCC spheres in FBP. These drug pellets were further coated for extended release with HPMC, 5cps and EC, 7cps. In drug coating stage, drug and different binder (Hypromellose, 5 cps) concentrations 8, 10, 12, 14 mg/unit were coated onto the cores for optimization of binder concentration. The weight of MCC spheres were optimized for further formulations. For all the drug coated pellets, ER coating was given with EC, 7cps and HPMC, 5 cps at a coating level of 8% weight by weight. In the extrusion- spheronization (E/S) Optimization of Drug pellets: Among the trials TD3 (Tamsulosin HCl and MCC) showed good mechanical strength with better yield due to increased MCC concentration. Optimization of Extended Release Coating: Optimized TD3 drug pellets were coated with ER coating using water insoluble polymer (Aq.EC 25% dispersion/ EC, 4cps/ EC, 7cps) and water soluble polymer (HPMC, 5cps). Among these polymers, extended release coating was optimized (TD3E14) with the combination of EC, 7cps and HPMC, 5cps at 8% weight build up. In the Solution/Suspension layering: Optimization of binder concentration in drug coating stage: HPMC, 5cps with 12 mg/unit for TF7 was optimized based on %yield. Optimization of MCC spheres in drug coating stage in formulation of ER pellets with different weight drug pellets: The weight of MCC spheres (160, 170, 180, 190 mg/unit) used in the drug coating stage with binder HPMC, 5cps (12 mg/unit). These drug pellets were given with ER coating at 8% weight buildup by using EC, 7cps and HPMC, 5cps. Among these trials, TF7E7 was optimized. Based on the investigations of the present study, conclusions was. formulating low dose, high soluble, BCS class I drug- Tamsulosin Hydrochloride ER formulation by extrusion-spheronization showed flexibility for batch processing and cost effectiveness while solution/suspension layering was process feasible but time consuming due to high drug loading.