Acta Pharm. 67 (2017) 113-124
Original research paper
Characterization and taste masking evaluation
of microparticles with cetirizine
dihydrochloride and methacrylate-based copolymer
obtained by the spray drying
ALEKSANDRA AMELIAN, MARTA SZEKALSKA, PATRYCJA CIOSEK, ANNA BASA and
KATARZYNA WINNICKA
1 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Medical University of Bia造stok, Bia造stok 15-222,
Poland
2 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Medical University of Bia造stok, Bia造stok 15-222, Poland
3 Department of Microbioanalytics,
Warsaw University of Technology, Warszawa 00-664, Poland
4 Department of
Physicochemical Analysis, University of Bia造stok, Bia造stok 15-399, Poland
Accepted August 20, 2016
Published online August 26,
2016
Taste of a pharmaceutical formulation is an important parameter for the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy. Cetirizine dihydrochloride (CET) is a second-generation antihistamine that is commonly administered in allergy treatment. CET is characterized by extremely bitter taste and it is a great challenge to successfully mask its taste; therefore the goal of this work was to formulate and characterize the microparticles obtained by the spray drying method with CET and poly(butyl methacrylate-co-(2-dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate 1:2:1 copolymer (Eudragit E PO) as a barrier coating. Assessment of taste masking by the electronic tongue has revealed that designed formulations created an effective taste masking barrier. Taste masking effect was also confirmed by the in vivo model and the in vitro release profile of CET. Obtained data have shown that microparticles with a drug/polymer ratio (0.5:1) are promising CET carriers with efficient taste masking potential and might be further used in designing orodispersible dosage forms with CET.
Keywords: taste masking, electronic tongue, cetirizine dihydrochloride, microparticles,
methacrylate copolymer, spray drying