581 Article Info Article history Received 2 March 2023 Revised 18 April 2023 Accepted 19 April 2023 Published Online 30 June-2023 Keywords Polymer Controlled release Matrix tablet Propranolol hydrochloride Hydrophilic and hydrophobic Study the effect of polymers on the release rate of propranolol hydrochloride from controlled release matrix tablets Megha Tonk, Shabnam Ain  , Babita Kumar* and Qurratul Ain* Raj Kumar Goel Institute of Technology (Pharmacy), Delhi-Meerut Road, Ghaziabad-201001, Uttar Pradesh, India * Sanskar College of Pharmacy and Research (SCPR), Sanskar Educational Group, Ghaziabad-201302, Uttar Pradesh, India Abstract The aim of the present study was to see how polymers effect on the rate of propranolol hydrochloride (propranolol HCl ) release from a controlled release matrix tablet. Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPKMC K4M and HPMC K15M) and ethyl cellulose (EC) were used to retard the rate of propranolol HCl release. The UV (Ultraviolet) absorption, FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy and DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry) spectra showed that propranolol HCl is compatible with HPMC K4M, HPMC K15M and ethyl cellulose. Controlled release tablets were made using a wet granulation technique. Angle of repose, bulk density, tapped density and compressibility index of propranolol HCl were all assessed prior to compression. Prepared tablets were evaluated for thickness, hardness, content uniformity, % friability and disintegration time and % drug release. All the parameters of pre-compression and post compression comply with standard specification. The in vitro drug release study disclosed that a formulation containing HPMC K15M and ethyl cellulose retarded the drug release rate for maximum time. The results of this investigation manifested that a blend of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers might be used to successfully enhance delayed rate of propranolol hydrochloride release from its controlled release matrix tablet. Copyright © 2023 Ukaaz Publications. All rights reserved. Email: ukaaz@yahoo.com; Website: www.ukaazpublications.com Annals of Phytomedicine 12(1): 581-588, 2023 Annals of Phytomedicine: An International Journal http://www.ukaazpublications.com/publications/index.php Print ISSN : 2278-9839 Online ISSN : 2393-9885 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.54085/ap.2023.12.1.51 Corresponding author: Dr. Shabnam Ain Professor and HOD, Sanskar College of Pharmacy and Research (SCPR), Sanskar Educational Group, Ghaziabad-201302, Uttar Pradesh, India E-mail: shabnam.ain@sanskar.org Tel.: +91-9310807567 Original Article : Open Access 1. Introduction The primary objectives of controlled drug delivery system are to ensure safety, enhance efficacy of drug which improve patient compliance (Barzeh et al., 2016; Ain et al., 2022). This could be affected by better modification and control of plasma drug level and reduction in dose frequency (Yassin et al., 2021; Vyas and Khar 2006). Propranolol HCl is a class II antiarrhthmic drug which belongs to the beta-adrenergic blocking agents. It is extensively used as antihypertensive drug and is also used in treatment of angina pectoris, phaeochromocytoma, cardiac arrhythmias and many other cardiovascular disorders (Vidyadhara et al., 2017; Gangireddy et al., 2019). Propranolol hydrochloride is highly lipophilic drug (Soni et al., 2021; Togaru et al., 2017). It undergo extensive first pass metabolism, therefore its bioavailability is low approximately 30% (Huang et al., 2004). Its elimination half-life is also low (3-5 h) which results in frequent dosing that decreases patient compliance (Alhmoud et al., 2019). All the above reasons make it a model drug for controlled release dosage form (Mohapatra 2016). The matrix system is the most frequently used approach for controlling medication release (Shadbad et al., 2011). Matrix system is very cost effective, flexible, broadly accepted method and its in vitro - in vivo correlation is good (Shojaee et al., 2017; Ain et al., 2016). A matrix system contains a medication that is uniformly dispersed and dissolved throughout a polymeric matrix, which are subsequently combined with other additives to create tablet dosage forms (Rebaz 2017; Ain et al., 2017). The polymeric matrix used acts as a release retardant and can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymers or different combinations of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers (Bala et al., 2021; Chaiya and Phaechamud 2022). Polymeric material is the regulating component of drug delivery and it is a typical critical constituent in controlled release delivery systems (Antovska, 2017; Ain et al., 2013). They are very cost effective, they have broad regulatory acceptance and are very flexible to provide desirable drug release profile desirable drug release profile (Khandai, 2010; Barzeh et al., 2016). The use of hydrophilic polymer HPMC helps to regulate drug release by hydration of matrix (Hanbali et al., 2018; Dhama et al.,2022) and including hydrophobic polymer, EC to retard the release rate (Patil et al., 2016). In this research work, six formulations (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, and F6) were prepared. F1 does not consist of any polymer, F2 was prepared by employing HPMC K4M, F3 was prepared by employing HPMC K15M, F4 was prepared by employing ethyl cellulose, F5 was prepared by employing HPMC K4M and ethyl cellulose and F6 was prepared by employing HPMC K15M and EC (Rowe et al., 2004). Initially, possible incompatibilities between propranolol HCl and different polymers (HPMC K4M, HPMC K15M and ethyl cellulose) were determined by UV spectroscopy, DSC and FTIR. Angle of repose, bulk density, tapped density and compressibility index of propranolol HCl matrix tablet were investigated as pre-compression parameters. Post compression parameters like thickness, hardness, content uniformity, percent friability, disintegration time and percent drug release were evaluated on the prepared tablets.