Abstract

The present research work was to design and develop the matrix porous tablets of Stavudine. It is having a short biological half-life (1.5 h) so it is considered as a suitable drug for the formulation of sustained release tablets to prolong its therapeutic action. Stavudine is a nucleoside analogue and reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in combination with other agents in the therapy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Sustained release tablets were prepared by direct compression technique, using polymers at different ratios. Powder blend was evaluated for bulk density, tapped density, angle of repose, Hausner’s ratio, compressibility index. The physicochemical properties of tablets were found within the limits. The prepared tablets were evaluated for weight variation, thickness, hardness, % friability, % drug contents, and in vitro release. In vitro dissolution studies (USP dissolution rate test apparatus II, 50 rpm, 37°C±0.5°C) was carried out for 10 h using 0.1 N HCl (1.2 pH) as a dissolution medium. The optimized formulation F-3 was shown maximum drug release 98.21% in 10 h of dissolution studies. The dissolution of batch F3 can be described by zero order kinetics (R2=0.984). There was no difference observed in release profile after temperature sensitivity study at 40 oC/75% relative humidity (RH) for 1 month.