The effect of various surfactants on the release rate of propranolol hydrochloride from hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC)-Eudragit matrices.

Hydrophilic and lipophilic polymers are widely used excipients to control the release rate of drugs from matrices. Researchers found that surfactants are able to control the release rate of drugs. The aim of the present investigation is to determine the effects of surfactant type, its concentration and the different ratios of surfactants on the release rate of highly soluble drug (propranolol HCl). In this study, sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) as an anionic surfactant, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as a cationic surfactant, Tween 65 and Arlacel 60 as non-ionic surfactants were selected. The different concentrations of surfactants were incorporated into hydroxypropylmethylcellulose-Eudragit matrices and then dissolution rate of the drug from the matrices were evaluated at pH 1.2 or 6.8. The results showed that the release rate of propranolol decreased as the concentration of SLS increased. This is due to that SLS is able to form complex with propranolol. In contrast Tween 65 caused an increase in the release rate of the drug. Cationic surfactant (CTAB) had little effect on the release rate of the drug. It was shown that as the ratio of CTAB:SLS increased the release rate of propranolol increased from matrices. This indicated that as CTAB is able to interact with SLS molecules, therefore number of the interacting anionic molecules with the cationic drug was decreased. It can be concluded that, the type and ionization of surfactant, hydrophilicity and lipophilicity of surface active agent and various ratios of surfactants are important factors in controlling the release rate of propranolol.