Development and validation of an in vitro–in vivo correlation (IVIVC) model for propranolol hydrochloride extended-release matrix formulations

Chinhwa Cheng a,b, Pao-Chu Wuc,**, Hsin-Ya Lee c, Kuang-Yang Hsu a,*
a School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, ROC
b Medical and Pharmaceutical Technology and Development Center, Taiwan, ROC
c College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan, ROC

The objective of this study was to develop an in vitroein vivo correlation (IVIVC) model for hydrophilic matrix extended-release (ER) propranolol dosage formulations. The in vitro release characteristics of the drug were determined using USP apparatus I at 100 rpm, in a medium of varying pH (from pH 1.2 to pH 6.8). In vivo plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters in male beagle dogs were obtained after administering oral, ER formulations and immediate-release (IR) commercial products. The similarity factor f2 was used to compare the dissolution data. The IVIVC model was developed using pooled fraction dissolved and fraction absorbed of propranolol ER formulations, ER-F and ER-S, with different release rates. An additional formulation ER-V, with a different release rate of propranolol, was prepared for evaluating the external predictability. The results showed that the percentage prediction error (%PE) values of Cmax and AUC0eN were 0.86% and 5.95%, respectively, for the external validation study. The observed low prediction errors for Cmax and AUC0eN demonstrated that the propranolol IVIVC model was valid.

Keywords: IVIVC, Extended-release dosage, Propranolol