Unfolding type gastroretentive film of Cinnarizine based on ethyl cellulose and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose

The present work was based on the development and characterization of unfolding type gastro retentive dosage form appropriate for controlled release of Cinnarizine (CNZ), a drug with narrow therapeutic window. The drug loaded polymer film of biological macromolecules, i.e., ethyl cellulose (EC) and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC K15) was folded into hard gelatin capsules. The film was folded in different patterns for characterizing their unfolding behavior. The polymeric film revealed a fast release during the first hour followed by a more gradual drug release during a 12-h period following a non-Fickian diffusion process. Tensile strength of polymeric film was optimized using different amount (0.2–0.7 ml) of polyethylene glycol (PEG 400). Various physical parameters were studied for evaluating their performance as a gastroretentive dosage form. Drug and polymers were found to be compatible as revealed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) study and scanning electron micrograph (SEM) study revealed uniform dispersion of CNZ in polymeric matrices. The results indicate that unfolding type gastro retentive drug delivery system holds lots of potential for drug having stability problems in alkaline pH or are which mainly absorbed in acidic pH.