New levodopa sustained-release floating minitablets coated with insoluble acrylic polymer

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a new coated multiple-unit sustained-release floating system that is able to float over an extended period of time. Levodopa was used as a model drug. The system consisted of a 3mm drug-containing gas-generating core, prepared by melt granulation and subsequent compression, and coated with a flexible polymeric membrane. Eudragit RL30D and ATEC were used as a film former and a plasticizer, respectively. The coating level was fixed at 20% (w/w). The floating lag time decreased as the proportion of effervescent agents increased. The optimized coated floating minitablets could float within 20min and remained buoyant for more than 13h. In addition, a sustained release of levodopa for more than 20h was observed.