Effect of potassium chloride and cationic drug on swelling, erosion and release from kappa-carrageenan matrices

The basic objective of this work was to study the effect of model cationic drug metformin HCl on swelling and erosion and, in turn, the release of KCl and drug itself, from the kappa-carrageenan matrices. Water uptake by the matrix up to 2 hours was found to increase with KCl concentration from the plain matrix. Erosion was not affected by concentration of KCl. Incorporation of drug favors water uptake, but in presence of KCl it was found to be reduced. Drug-containing matrices have shown higher release of KCl as compared with plain batches. Drug release was retarded as KCl concentration increased up to 5%, above which the reduced cohesivity of the matrix caused increase in drug release.