Research Paper Formulation Study and Evaluation of Double Coated Tablets of Nimesulide for Colon Targeting

The present study was aimed at developing oral colon targeted drug delivery system for Nimesulide utilizing recently designed and patented system called CODES TM , which consisted of a lactulose containing core overcoated with both Eudragit E and Eudragit L designed to rapidly disintegrate in the colon, in order to give a new life for an existing banned drug. CODES TM tablets were prepared by tabletting Nimesulide and lactulose, followed with film coating of Eudragit. The prepared tablets were evaluated on the basis of in vitro dissolution study and in vivo disintegration study was performed by gamma scintigraphic evaluation in rats. The onset of Nimesulide release was found to dependent on the coating level of Eudragit E, and at Eudragit E coating level of 8% (coating weight gain), the onset of in vitro drug release was found to be optimum. When the same was subjected on scintigraphic evaluation for in vivo disintegration study, there was a reasonable agreement between the in vitro/in vivo data. It is concluded that Nimesulide can be targeted to hindgut by a novel approach of CODES TM .