Development of Sustained-Release Pastilles of a BCS Class III Antidiabetic Drug Using Melt Solidification Technique

Mohit Kuamr ^1*, Neelam painuly ², Akash Verma ³, Heena mittal ⁴

^1*Assistant Professor, Teerthanker Mahaveer College of Pharmacy, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad-244001, U.P., India
²Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy & Research, Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University, Naugaon, Dehradun, India
³Assistant Professor, Teerthanker Mahaveer College of Pharmacy, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad-244001, U.P., India
⁴Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Dehradun, India

Author information

^1*Corresponding Author
Email: mohitgoyal21111@gmail.com
ORCID: 0009-0001-8236-7396
²Email: neelu.painuly@gmail.com
³Email: aakashv.verma210@gmail.com
ORCID: 0000-0003-0043-7854

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ABSTRACT

This study's overarching goal was to develop laboratory-scale manufactured melt solidification equipment in order to investigate the usage of solid lipid as an alternative to polymers and a solvent-free approach for formulation of sustained release dosage forms like pastilles. Pastilles with a slow release of metformin in hydrochloride were made using a melt solidification process. Box-Behnken designs were used as part of the response surface approach for optimization. We tested the device at 20G needle size and 4°C cooling plate temperature on a lab scale. The formed pastilles was examined for their size and shape, crushing strength, flow characteristics, contact angle, % friability, % drug content uniformity, and thermal properties by differential scanning calorimetry, assessment of pore formation done by scanning electron microscopic analysis. The lipid matrix showed sustained release during in vitro breakdown for up to 10 hours. More than 95% drug released was recorded at 10 h. The formed Pastilles were roughly spherical in shape and ranged in size from 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm, yet the pastilles' angle of contact was measured to be more than 115 degrees. The disintegration rate was increased, and the function played by pore former quantity was crucial. The pastillation technique is an excellent method for creating pastilles that are the right size, shape, crushing strength, contact angle, and, most importantly, release their contents slowly over time.

Keywords: Meltsolidification Technique, Pastillation, Drug, Polymers, Calorimetry.

How to cite this article: Kuamr M, Painuly N, Verma A, Mittal H, Development of Sustained-Release Pastilles of a BCS Class III Antidiabetic Drug Using Melt Solidification Technique. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(4s): 303-315. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.2s.37