RELEASE CHARACTERISTICS OF CAFFEINE AND MEBEVERINE HYDROCHLORIDE FROM ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE MULTIPLE EMULSIONS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Abstract

Double emulsions (w/o/w) were prepared by two steps emulsification procedure using isopropyl myristate as the oily phase. The influence of the inner aqueous phase volume and emulsifier concentration on the release characteristics of either caffeine or mebeverine hydrochloride from the prepared emulsions was studied. For the purpose of comparison, the release of each drug from either o/w or w/o emulsion was investigated. The results showed that the release of both drugs from w/o/w emulsions was independent on the inner aqueous phase volume. The release of mebeverine hydrochloride was sustained from either w/o/w or w/o emulsions while that of caffeine was not significantly retarded as indicated by the amount released after 24 hours. Increasing the concentration of the hydrophilic emulsifier (Tween 20) had a little effect on the release of both drugs from w/o/w emulsions. On the other hand, the release of mebeverine hydrochloride was more prolonged on increasing the concentration of the lipophilic emulsifier (Span 80), while the release of caffeine was not significantly retarded.