New sustained release of zidovudine matrix tablets - cytotoxicity toward Caco-2 cells.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to adjust the zidovudine (AZT) release from solid tablets to an ideal profile, by developing matrices comprising swellable polymers with nonswellable ones. METHODS: Directly compressed matrices comprised different ratios of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose K15M and K100M, ethylcellulose, and methacrylic acid (Eudragit(®) RS PO and Eudragit(®) RL PO) were prepared. Technological characterization and evaluation of the in vitro release behavior were carried out. Cell density and viability following drug exposure were evaluated by the SRB method, for the Caco-2 line, while cell morphology was assessed upon Trypan blue staining. RESULTS: A specific formulation containing 5% of each excipient - HPMC K15M, HPMC K100M, Eudragit(®) RS PO, and Eudragit(®) RL PO - was found to yield the best release profile. Application of the Korsmeyer-Peppas model to the dissolution profile evidenced that a non-Fickian (anomalous) transport is involved in the drug release. Regarding the influence of the tablets' composition on the drug's cytotoxic effect toward the Caco-2 cell line, a reduction of cell biomass (0-15%) was verified for the distinct AZT formulations tested, F19 having displayed the highest cytotoxicity, after 24 and 48 h of incubation. Additionally, a high reversibility of the AZT effect was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the simultaneous application of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers can modulate the drug release process, leading to an improved efficacy and patient compliance. All AZT formulations studied were found to be cytotoxic against Caco-2 cells, F19 being the most effective one.

Development and validation of a RP-HPLC method for the determination of zidovudine and its related substances in sustained-release tablets.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method for the rapid and accurate quantification of zidovudine (AZT) in sustained release tablets during stability testing was developed. A Waters RP-18 XTerra™(®) column, using a water:methanol (80:20, v/v%) mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 ml min(-1), and UV detection at 266 nm, was employed. The method of validation parameters indicate a linear range of between 40.0 to 220.0 µg ml(-1) with an LOQ of 1.985 µg ml(-1) and an LOD of 0.655 µg ml(-1) for the analyte. The degradation products of AZT were isolated and characterized for the first time. There was a very little decline of antiviral by heat, and AZT did not completely degrade either by acid or alkaline hydrolysis. On the other hand, oxidation caused a higher degradation stress in the drug. Finally, the degradation products resulting from stress studies were not found to interfere with the detection of antiviral, which is an advantage of the presently proposed method.

The influence of the compression force on zidovudine release from matrix tablets.

The aim of the present work is the study of different zidovudine (AZT) formulations containing polymers (both cellulosic and acrylic), in order to evaluate the influence of the compression force on the antiviral release from the matrix tablets. The results evidenced that the formulations compressed at 500 and 1,000 MPa exhibit a higher hardness than those prepared at 100 MPa. The effect of the compression force on the drug release was analyzed and a statistically significant difference was observed (P < 0.05). Using lower compression forces leads to slightly better release profiles, i.e., profiles close to an ideal Higuchi kinetics for a total release of drug in a 12-h period, allowing to conclude that a compression force higher than 100 MPa is unnecessary.