Short half life of propranolol hydrochloride (PPN), an antihypertensive drug is a prime requirement to develop a formulation which could
sustain the release of PPN in the human body and also eliminate daily multiple dosage of propranolol. In this study organoclay Pluronic
F68 modified montmorillonite (Mt) has been explored as a sustained release carrier for oral delivery of PPN. The developed organoclay
PF68-Mt was compared for adsorption capacity of PPN with pristine Mt. A detailed and systematic study to evaluate the effect of pH, time
and initial PPN concentration on drug loading capacity of organoclay PF68-Mt and pristine Mt has been evaluated. The synthesized PF68-
Mt-PPN composites were characterized by XRD, FTIR, TGA techniques. XRD studies suggested the intercalation of PPN within the
pristine Mt and organoclay PF68 - Mt. In vitro drug release profile of PPN from organoclay PF68-Mt composites is compared with that of
pristine Mt and the pure PPN, in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. The release profile of loaded PPN in organoclay PF68-Mt shows pH
dependent release in simulated gastrointestinal fluid. The release behaviour of PPN from PF68-Mt-PPN composites was appeared to be in
more sustained manner than prisine Mt and pure PPN over a period of 24 hours. This study suggests that the modification of Mt with a non
ionic tri block co polymer Pluronic F68 provides better controlled on the release of PPN as compared to pristine Mt and pure drug. The
obtained PF68-Mt-PPN composites with high drug loading capacity and sustained drug release characteristics supposed to be a better oral
drug delivery system, for a highly hydrophilic low molecular weight antihypertensive drug PPN. The PF68-Mt-PPN composites developed
have the potential to minimize the drug dosing frequency and hence improving the patient compliance. Thus, proposing a new promising
formulation for oral sustained release drug delivery.
Key words: Montmorillonite; Pluronic F68; organoclay; propranolol hydrochloride; adsorption; sustained release drug delivery.
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