Page 129 - 69_01

Anal. Real Acad. Nal. Farm., 2003 (69)

Artículo Original

Design and development of oral controlled release
microcapsules containing naproxen

DOMINGOS FERREIRA,A BRUNO SARMENTO,A HELENA
AMARAL,A * FRANCISCO VEIGA,B AND JOSÉ MANUEL SOUSA

LOBOA
(a) Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Oporto, Rua Aníbal Cunha, 164,

4050-047 Porto, Portugal
(b) Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Rua do Norte, 3000

Coimbra, Portugal.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work was to prepare microcapsules containing naproxen that
could be used in the preparation of oral controlled released forms. The work consisted on
the preparation of microcapsules by the solvent evaporation method. Different batches
were prepared, in the first step, using different polymers (Eudragit RLPO and Eudragit
RSPM) or mixtures of these polymers (Eudragit RLPO/Eudragit RSPM 1/3, 2/2 and 3/1)
and, in second step, using Eudragit RLPO and 5% of Cutina (HR, KD 16 and MD). The
film-forming properties of polymers and different types of Cutina were examined and
the physicochemical factors that influence drug release from the films were studied. The
evaluation of the release rate of these preparations was performed in pH 7.4 phosphate
buffer solution, during 12 hours. The release studies of naproxen preparations demon-
strated differences in the drug release properties depending on the polymer or the content
of the polymer in the mixtures and also on the type of Cutina.
Key words: Microcapsules.? Naproxen.? Oral controlled release.