Abstract
The objective of this work was to develop floating levofloxacin tablets and to understand the kinetics of drug release by applying mathematical and model-dependent approaches. Nine formulations of floating tablets were prepared by the direct compression method using Gelucire 43/01 (hydrophobic) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (hydrophilic) as matrix-forming excipients. The in vitro drug release was studied in pH 1.2 HCl using USP dissolution Apparatus 2 at 50 rpm. Zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Hixson-Crowell, and Korsmeyer et al. models were used to estimate the kinetics of drug release. The criteria for selecting the most appropriate model were based on the goodness-of-fit test and lowest sum of squares residual. Drug release from the optimal batch was explained by the Higuchi model. A simple mathematical approach was applied to determine the deviation in area under the curve (AUC) between predicated and observed dissolution data. The difference in percent deviation of AUC at each point was lowest for the optimum batch. Drug release was a function of the ratio of hydrophobic to hydrophilic matrixing agent.