Development and In-Vitro Evaluation of Ethyl Cellulose Micropellets as a Controlled Release Dosage Form for Theophylline

A micropellet dosage form was developed using ethyl cellulose as a polymer with a view to achieve a controlled release oral drug delivery system for theophylline. Drugpolymer ratios and stirring speeds were found to influence the size-distribution of micropellets. Time required for 50% release of theophylline from micropellets was found to vary linearly with the drug content and reciprocal of diameter of micropellets. Invitro release of theophylline from micropellets, having different drug-polymer ratios and different sizes, was found apparently to follow both the First-order release and Diffusion controlled release processes. By differential rate treatment it was found that the overall release, in fact, followed diffusion controlled process.