FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF NICORANDIL FLOATING PULSATILE PELLETS FOR CHRONOTHERAPEUTIC DRUG DELIVERY

The objective of the work was to develop nicorandil floating pulsatile pellets by pan coating technique where drug loaded pellets were coated with pH dependent polymer Eudragit S100 for chronotherapy of angina pectoris, an underlying cause of heart attack. These pellets were evaluated for micromeritics properties, particle size, percent entrapment efficiency, percent friability, in vitro floating ability, drug release and kinetics of pellets. The optimized batch exhibited good entrapment efficiency and flow properties, optimum friability and good floating property and released the drug at right time when symptoms are at peak level in early hours by maintaining required lag phase during floating in acidic medium for 5 hours, followed by burst release in simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.4 phosphate buffer). It followed first order kinetics. Scanning Electronic Microscopy analysis of optimized batch revealed that the pellets were spherical in shape with smooth surface.