Evaluation of the binding property of citric acid modified potato starch in ibuprofen tablet formulations

Native potato starch (NPS) is used as binder in tablet formulations. The binding property of potato starch modified with citric acid (MPS) was evaluated in ibuprofen tablet formulations. Starch was extracted from sweet potato tubers and modified using citric acid. Six ibuprofen tablet formulations were prepared using NPS, maize starch or MPS as binder. The micromeritic properties of the NPS and MPS were evaluated. The formulated tablets were subjected to various evaluation tests such as hardness, friability, disintegration and dissolution tests. MPS has good flow properties as indicated by the compressibility index and Hausner ratio. Friability for the tablets ranged from 0.28±0.54 to 2.80±0.59% but those prepared using MPS were less friable. Tablet hardness ranged from 8.0±0.70 to 11.95±0.42 kgf and those prepared with MPS had higher values. The disintegration time for tablets formulated with MPS were above15 minutes. Tablets formulated with MPS released a lower quantity of ibuprofen than others at any given time. This study showed that MPS has better binding properties than NPS but is comparable to maize starch. The binding capacity of the modified starch increases with increase in its concentration.