Formulation, evaluation and characterization of fexofenadine IR and paracetamol SR multiparticulate drug delivery system

Abstract: Background: Multiparticulate Drug Delivery (MDD) system are particularly considered as well suited systems for controlling oral preparations that have low risk of dose-dumping. Objectives: The current research work was aimed to prepare Fexofenadine HCl immediate release (IR) and Paracetamol sustained release (SR) pellets in a single dosage unit for the treatment of Allergic Rhinitis. Extrusion-spheronization was used to fabricate pellets. Methods: The formulations were analyzed for several parameters, including micromeritic studies, Friability, Weight variation test, Swelling, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), in-vitro release and stability studies. Results: The results showed that the formulated pellets have an excellent flowability (23.01° to 25.23°), bulk density falls in the range of 1.23 g cm-3 to 1.42 g cm-3, tapped density ranges 1.43 g/cm3 1.58 g/cm3, carr’s compressibility index lie between 10.31 % to 15.17 %, Hausner's ratio ranges 1.11 to 1.18 which concluded pellets had good flow properties. Friability was less than 1%; the T6 formulation showed the maximum swelling of 99.28%. No interaction between excipient and drug was found. T6 showed a drug release of 99.08% in 24 hours. Conclusion: The research effectively demonstrated that preparing a single-unit dosage form of paracetamol and fexofenadine is a safe, simple and promising technique for SR of Paracetamol, thereby increasing patient compliance by reducing the dosage frequency.