SeDeM expert system with I-optimal mixture design for oral multiparticulate drug delivery: An encapsulated floating minitablets of loxoprofen Na and its physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling.

A SeDeM expert tool-driven I-optimal mixture design has been used to develop a directly compressible multiparticulate based extended release minitablets for gastro-retentive drug delivery systems using loxoprofen sodium as a model drug. Powder blends were subjected to stress drug-excipient compatibility studies using FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis, and DSC. SeDeM diagram expert tool was utilized to assess the suitability of the drug and excipients for direct compression. The formulations were designed using an I-optimal mixture design with proportions of methocel K100M, ethocel 10P and NaHCO as variables. Powder was compressed into minitablets and encapsulated. After physicochemical evaluation lag-time, floating time, and drug release were studied. Heckel analysis for yield pressure and accelerated stability studies were performed as per ICH guidelines. The PBPK Advanced Compartmental and Transit model of GastroPlus™ was used for predicting pharmacokinetic parameters. Drug release follows first-order kinetics with fickian diffusion as the main mechanism for most of the formulations; however, a few formulations followed anomalous transport as the mechanism of drug release. The -based pharmacokinetic revealed relative bioavailability of 97.0%. SeDeM expert system effectively used in QbD based development of encapsulated multiparticulates for once daily administration of loxoprofen sodium having predictable bioavailability.