Indices of Tableting Performance for Acrylic Resin Polymers with Plastic and Brittle Drugs

Abstract

The indices of tableting performance were used to investigate the compaction properties of two methacrylate ester copolymers (Eudragit® RS PM and RL PM) and three methacrylic acid copolymers (Eudragit® S 100, L 100, and L 100–55). These polymers were designed to be incorporated directly into solid dosage forms for controlled-release purposes. The polymers were combined in the dry state with either sodium sulfathiazole (a brittle drug) or theophylline (a plastic drug) at concentrations ranging from 0 to 100% polymer. All powders were blended for 15 minutes and compacts measuring 1 inch square and weighing 5 g each were made using a die that decompressed triaxially and a Carver® press equipped with a strain gauge. Solid fractions were kept constant at 0.81. Two of the tableting indices, the bonding index (BI) and brittle fracture index (BFI), were studied for all mixtures. The BFI of the sulfonamide (0.49) was nearly three times greater than the BFI for theophylline(0.17) The three methacrylic acid copolymers had high BFI values ranging from 0.99 to 1.60, demonstrating the brittle characteristics of these polymers. The BFI decreased with increasing drug content in all cases. Of the five polymers, the BI was greatest for Eudragit® L 100–55 with both drugs, especially at the 20% drug concentration, followed by Eudragits L 100 and S 100. These three resins were prepared by a spray-drying process. The strongest interactions (positive deviations for the BFI; negative deviations for indentation hardness and BI) of either drug with the polymers were always seen with the spray-dried materials. Low bonding indices were obtained for both of the methacrylate ester copolymers. However, all mixtures of both drug with these milled polymers (RL PM and RS PM) formed successful tablets.