Controlled release of metformin with Eudragit polymers

Unlock the Power of Metformin: How to Enhance Drug Release for Better Results

Avery Sinclair in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover the secrets to optimizing metformin hydrochloride delivery using advanced techniques and polymers, and improve treatment outcomes."

Conventional drug delivery methods often come with challenges, such as inconsistent drug levels in the body, potential side effects, and difficulties in patient adherence. Controlled-release systems offer a promising solution by maintaining a stable and effective drug concentration over a prolonged period. This approach aims to improve therapeutic outcomes and simplify dosing schedules, enhancing patient compliance.

One of the hurdles in drug formulation is achieving consistent and sustained release, especially for highly water-soluble drugs like metformin hydrochloride. An initial burst release can lead to high drug concentrations initially, followed by a rapid decline, reducing the overall effectiveness of the medication. Therefore, innovative methods are needed to control drug release and extend its therapeutic action.

Solid dispersion is a technique used to improve the dissolution properties of drugs. Recent studies explore using water-insoluble carriers to create sustained-release formulations of water-soluble drugs. This article delves into how specific polymers, such as Eudragit RLPO and Eudragit RSPO, combined with compritol, affect the release profile of metformin hydrochloride. We will explore how these materials can be used to optimize drug delivery and improve patient outcomes.

The Science Behind Enhanced Metformin Release

Controlled release of metformin with Eudragit polymers

Researchers investigated the impact of polymethacrylates (Eudragit RSPO and RLPO) and compritol 888 ATO on the release profile of metformin hydrochloride, a highly water-soluble drug. Solid dispersions of metformin were prepared using drug-to-polymer ratios of 1:1 and 1:5, employing techniques like co-precipitation and co-evaporation. These formulations were then characterized using various methods, including:

These techniques helped the researchers understand the physical and chemical properties of the solid dispersions, including drug-polymer interactions, drug crystallinity, and thermal behavior.

Infrared Spectroscopy (IR): To identify chemical interactions between metformin and the polymers.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC): To assess the thermal properties and drug crystallinity within the solid dispersions.
X-Ray Diffraction (XRD): To determine the physical state of the drug (crystalline or amorphous) in the formulations.
In Vitro Dissolution Studies: To evaluate the rate and extent of drug release in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids.

The study revealed that the type and concentration of polymers significantly influenced metformin release. Eudragit RLPO demonstrated a greater capacity for drug release compared to Eudragit RSPO and Compritol 888. The optimized formulation, using a 1:5 drug-to-polymer ratio, exhibited a prolonged drug release with a dissolution rate of 92.15% over 12 hours, closely following zero-order kinetics.

Better Metformin Delivery, Better Health Outcomes

This research highlights the potential of using specific polymers and formulation techniques to enhance the release profile of metformin hydrochloride. By optimizing the drug-to-polymer ratio and employing methods like co-evaporation, it is possible to achieve a sustained and controlled release, which can lead to improved therapeutic efficacy.

The findings suggest that Eudragit RLPO, in particular, offers a promising avenue for formulating extended-release metformin products. Its ability to promote greater drug release, combined with appropriate formulation strategies, can help maintain stable drug levels in the body and minimize fluctuations that may contribute to side effects or reduced effectiveness.

Further research and development in this area could pave the way for new and improved metformin formulations that offer better patient compliance, enhanced therapeutic outcomes, and a higher overall quality of life for individuals managing their health.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4321/s2340-98942015000100004, Alternate LINK

Title: Influence Of Polymethacrylates And Compritol On Release Profile Of A Highly Water Soluble Drug Metformin Hydrochloride

Subject: History and Philosophy of Science

Journal: Ars Pharmaceutica (Internet)

Publisher: Editorial de la Universidad de Granada

Authors: Sunita Dahiya, Raginee Onker

Published: 2015-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What are the primary challenges associated with conventional metformin hydrochloride delivery, and how do controlled-release systems address these issues?

Metformin hydrochloride faces challenges such as inconsistent drug levels, potential side effects, and poor patient adherence due to conventional delivery methods. Controlled-release systems, utilizing materials like Eudragit RLPO, Eudragit RSPO and Compritol 888 ATO, offer a solution by maintaining stable drug concentrations over a prolonged period, enhancing patient compliance and improving therapeutic outcomes.

What is solid dispersion, and how does it improve the sustained release of water-soluble drugs like metformin hydrochloride using materials such as Eudragit RLPO and Compritol?

Solid dispersion is a technique to improve drug dissolution, particularly for water-soluble drugs like metformin hydrochloride. It involves using water-insoluble carriers, such as Eudragit RLPO and Eudragit RSPO, to create sustained-release formulations. By combining these polymers with compritol, the release profile of metformin can be optimized for better drug delivery and improved patient outcomes. The goal is to avoid an initial burst release followed by a rapid decline in drug concentration.

What specific techniques were employed to characterize the solid dispersions of metformin hydrochloride, and what information did each technique provide?

Researchers used techniques such as Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) to identify chemical interactions, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to assess thermal properties, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) to determine the drug's physical state, and In Vitro Dissolution Studies to evaluate drug release rates. These methods helped analyze drug-polymer interactions, drug crystallinity, and thermal behavior within solid dispersions, offering insights into optimizing metformin hydrochloride formulations.

How do different polymers, such as Eudragit RLPO, Eudragit RSPO, and Compritol 888 ATO, affect the release profile of metformin hydrochloride, and which polymer showed the most promise?

Eudragit RLPO demonstrated a greater capacity for metformin hydrochloride release compared to Eudragit RSPO and Compritol 888 ATO. An optimized formulation, using a 1:5 drug-to-polymer ratio, exhibited a prolonged drug release with a dissolution rate of 92.15% over 12 hours, closely following zero-order kinetics. This is due to the specific properties of Eudragit RLPO that facilitate a more sustained release profile for highly water-soluble drugs.

What are the potential health outcomes of optimizing the drug-to-polymer ratio in metformin hydrochloride formulations, and how does this contribute to better patient compliance and therapeutic efficacy?

Optimizing the drug-to-polymer ratio of metformin hydrochloride, particularly with polymers like Eudragit RLPO and Eudragit RSPO, alongside techniques like co-evaporation, can achieve a sustained and controlled release. This leads to improved therapeutic efficacy, reducing dosage frequency, minimizing side effects, and enhancing patient compliance, which are all crucial for effective long-term health management. Further research should explore the long-term effects and patient-specific optimization.