FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT & EVALUATION OF COLON TARGETED DOUBLE COATED TABLETS OF NIMESULIDE

Although the underlying mechanisms are still in the realm of speculation, accumulating evidence indicates that NSAIDs can lower the incidence of colorectal carcinomas. However, long-term uses of non-selective NSAIDs can lead to gastrointestinal toxicity from sustained inhibition COX-1. But one can overcome such problem by formulating them as colon specific delivery. In the light of this information, the present study was carried out to develop oral colon targeted drug delivery system for Nimesulide utilizing recently designed and patented system called CODESTM, which consisted of a lactulose containing core over coated with both Eudragit E and Eudragit L designed to rapidly disintegrate in the colon, in order to give a new life for an existing banned drug. CODESTM tablets were prepared by tabletting the granulation of Nimesulide and lactulose, followed with film coating. The prepared tablets were evaluated on the basis of various pharmacopoeial characteristics. The onset of Nimesulide release was found to dependent on the coating level of Eudragit E, and at Eudragit E coating level of 8% (coating weight gain), the onset of in vitro drug release was found to be optimum. It is concluded that Nimesulide can be targeted to hindgut by Novel approach of CODESTM in a simple and economic way.