Modulation of drug release rate of diltiazem-HCl from hydrogel matrices of succinic acid-treated ispaghula husk.

The feasibility of using succinic acid-treated ispaghula husk in matrix-based tablets of diltiazem-HCl was investigated. The sample prepared using 4:1 weight ratio of ispaghula husk to succinic acid showed improved swelling and gelling. A 3(2) factorial design was employed to investigate the effect of amount of succinic acid-treated ispaghula husk and dicalcium phosphate (DCP) on the percentage of the drug dissolved in 60, 300, and 480 min from the compressed tablets. The results of multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the significance of the amount of succinic acid-treated ispaghula husk was greater in magnitude than that of the amount of DCP in controlling the drug release. Acceptable batches were identified from a contour plot with constraints on the percentage drug released at the three sampling times. A mathematical model was also evolved to describe the entire dissolution profile. The results of F-test revealed that the Higuchi model fits well to the in vitro dissolution data. The tablets showed considerable radial and axial swelling in distilled water. Succinic acid-treated ispaghula husk can be used as an economical hydrophilic matrixing agent.