Abstract

DEVELOPMENT, OPTIMIZATION AND EVALUATION OF VARIOUS NATURAL ACACIA-GUAR GUM ENTERIC COATING FORMULATIONS USING TAGUCHI ARRAY DESIGN

*Dr. Deina E. Mohamed Elhassan and Suad Y. Alkarib

ABSTRACT

There are several techniques for tablet coating such as sugar coating, film coating and enteric coating. The enteric coating is the polymeric layer on solid surface that prevent the release of medication before it reaches the small intestine. Objectives: The present study addresses development and evaluation of acacia-guar gum combination as an enteric tablet coat aiming to add knowledge on how develop the ability of natural enteric forming ability of acacia-guar combination. Methods: Nine formulations of enteric coating solution based natural polymer were organized (FG1 toFG9) according to Taguchi design array which contain acacia: guar gum ratio as 1:4, 1:5 and 1:6 without/or with 10 to 20 % HPMC E5 polymer. These nine formulations were optimized with disintegration test in acid and Alkaline media using Taguchi experimental design. Various other Chemical tests parameters such as weight variation, hardness, friability and surface morphology were evaluated. Results: The peeled or cracked tablet surface that appear rough, indicating coat defects were observed with coated tablets FG3, FG4 and FG5, might be attributed to the lack of HPMC E5 as supporting material in coat adhesion, but having the same range of disintegration in 0.1 M HCL (about ±25min) and in 0.2M phosphate buffer (± 15 min). Whereas FG1, FG2 and FG6 contains 20% HPMC E5 showed better quality smooth enteric coat and can resist acidic for ±50 min. Based on Taguchi analysis, FG1 is selected is the best formulation contains acacia: guar gum (1:6) along with 20% HPMC E5 and has no concern on tablets chemical tests pre and post coating as well as stable against storage conditions for 9 months. The study statistically analyzed and concluded that, stable enteric coat based acacia gum and guar gum is achievable with no effect on tablets chemical tests parameters as far as acacia: guar ratio as 1:6 with HPMC E5 polymer.

Keywords: Tablet enteric coating, Guar gum, Acacia gum, HPMC E5, and chemical tests parameters evaluation.