Abstract

Kalyani Suresh Uchade, Aijaz Sheikh, Kailash Biyani

ABSTRACT

The development of fast dissolving tablets (FDTs) has emerged as a promising approach to improve patient compliance, particularly for populations with swallowing difficulties such as pediatric, geriatric, and bedridden patients. Trimethoprim, a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent, was selected as the model drug due to its therapeutic relevance in treating urinary tract and respiratory infections. The present study focuses on the formulation and evaluation of fast dissolving tablets containing Trimethoprim using natural polymer guar gum and its modified form, treated guar gum, as superdisintegrants. Guar gum, a galactomannan polysaccharide, is widely recognized for its biocompatibility and swelling properties, while treated guar gum was employed to enhance disintegration efficiency and mechanical strength. Tablets were prepared by direct compression method, incorporating varying concentrations of guar gum and treated guar gum. Pre-compression parameters such as angle of repose, bulk density, and compressibility index were evaluated to ensure flow properties of the powder blend. Post-compression studies included hardness, friability, weight variation, drug content uniformity, wetting time, water absorption ratio, and in vitro disintegration time. The dissolution profile was assessed using USP type II apparatus in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8), and results were compared across formulations. Among the batches, tablets containing treated guar gum demonstrated superior performance, exhibiting faster disintegration and enhanced dissolution rate compared to those formulated with untreated guar gum. This improvement can be attributed to the modification process, which increased porosity and facilitated rapid water uptake. The study concludes that treated guar gum is a promising natural excipient for the design of fast dissolving tablets, offering an effective alternative to synthetic superdisintegrants. The optimized formulation not only ensures rapid drug release but also maintains acceptable mechanical strength and stability, making it suitable for large-scale production. This work highlights the potential of natural polymer modification in advancing patient-friendly dosage forms and contributes to the growing interest in sustainable pharmaceutical excipients.