Sustained release tablets based on chitosan and carboxymethylcellulose sodium.

Chitosan and mixtures of chitosan with carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC-Na) were examined as vehicles for sustained release tablets of water-insoluble drugs. Prednisolone (PDS) was selected as a model of a water-insoluble drug for this study. Sustained release of PDS from tablets prepared by direct compression of chitosan and CMC-Na was demonstrated in model JP X fluids. Furthermore, the release rate of PDS could be controlled by changing the relative amounts of chitosan and CMC-Na, or the amount of PDS in the tablets, and by certain extra additives. Such chitosan/CMC-Na mixtures are a promising basis in the design of sustained release dosage forms of water-insoluble drugs.