DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF VALSARTAN GASTRORETENTIVE SUSTAINED RELEASED TABLETS

Vishnu P, K. Naveen Babu, M. Sunitha Reddy

Valsartan, an angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) widely prescribed in variety of cardiac conditions like hypertension, diabetic nephropathy and heart failure. The biological half-life is 3-6 hours and the maximum absorption is at initial part of gastro intestinal tract. In the present study Valsartan floating tablets were prepared by wet granulation method using non effervescence technique. The tablets were formulated using IPA as granulating fluid with binder PVP-k30 and employing polymers like HPMC K15M, HPMC K100M and EC. The prepared floating tablets were evaluated for various physicochemical parameters. The in-vitro drug release pattern of Valsartan floating tablets was fitted to different kinetic models which showed highest regression for zero order kinetics with Higuchi mechanism. Out of all formulations the one prepared with EC in granulation fluid and combination of different grades of HPMC was optimized (VF11) based on desired sustained release time (12hrs) followed by acceptable swelling and floating properties. The effect of PH on swelling index and floating properties of optimized formulation (VF11) were also investigated, and the study revealed that there are no significant changes on swelling index and floating properties.