Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa; Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
Khamanga, S.M., Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa; Walker, R.B., Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
Tablets manufactured in-house were compared to a marketed sustained-release product of verapamil to investigate the rate of hydration, erosion, and drug-release mechanism by measuring the wet and subsequent dry weights of the products. Swelling and erosion rates depended on the polymer and granulating fluid used, which ultimately pointed to their permeability characteristics. Erosion rate of the marketed product was highest, which suggests that the gel layer that formed around these tablets was weak as opposed to the robust and resistant layers of test products. Anomalous and near zero-order transport mechanisms were dominant in tests and commercial product, respectively. Copyright © Informa Healthcare.
calcium phosphate dibasic; carbomer; ethyl cellulose; eudagrit; eudragit; magnesium stearate; microcrystalline cellulose; polymer; verapamil; article; drug formulation; drug penetration; drug release; dry weight; evaluation; gel; hydration; sustained release preparation; tablet formulation; water transport; Calcium Channel Blockers; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Carriers; Drug Compounding; Polymers; Tablets; Verapamil; Water