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3 weeks |
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ACTA Pharmaceutica Sciencia
2025 , Vol 63 , Num 3
Development of multi-unit pellet system tablets containing acyclovir: Effect of fillers on drug release and tablet quality
1 Comenius University Bratislava, School of Pharmacy, Department of Galenic Pharmacy, Bratislava, Slovakia2 IQVIA, Research and Development Solutions, Bratislava, Slovakia
3 Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Neuroimmunology, Bratislava, Slovakia
DOI : 10.23893/1307-2080.APS6343 Viewed : 2392 - Downloaded : 1260 The study aimed to formulate multi-unit pellet system (MUPS) tablets containing the antiviral drug acyclovir (ACV) and investigate the impact of different tablet fillers on the quality parameters and drug release profiles. Acyclovir-loaded pellets were prepared using the extrusion-spheronization method and then compressed into MUPS tablets with one of the following fillers: starch, Avicel® or lactose. The results showed that the choice of filler significantly affected the mechanical properties of the MUPS tablets. Tablets containing Avicel® exhibited the highest hardness and longest disintegration time, while those with lactose had the lowest strength. Only the Avicel®-containing tablets met all the pharmacopeial quality requirements. However, the type of filler did not have a significant effect on the in vitro dissolution profiles of acyclovir from the MUPS tablets. Regardless of the filler, the drug release was faster in the simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) compared to the simulated intestinal fluid (pH 6.8). Kinetic modeling revealed that the Weibull model best described the drug release mechanism for all three formulations. The findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate excipients when formulating MUPS tablets to achieve the desired mechanical properties and drug release characteristics. Keywords : multi-unit pellet system, acyclovir, in vitro dissolution, chitosan, Avicel