Formulation development and evaluation of novel oral jellies of carbamazepine using pectin, guar gum, and gellan gum

Medicated jelly formulations are more suitable for pediatric, geriatric and dysphagic patients, which offer rapid dissolution and absorption of drugs thereby early onset of action. The aim was to develop and evaluate oral jelly formulations of carbamazepine (CBZ). Carbamazepine oral jellies were prepared to employ pectin, guar gum and gellan gum alone and pectin-guar gum combination. Preformulation studies, organoleptic, physical characteristics, drug content, pH, spreadability, rheological properties, syneresis, taste masking, in vitro dissolution testing, drug release kinetics and stability studies were conducted. The Fourier transform infrared and differential scanning calorimeter studies showed that there was no interaction between drug and excipients. The pH of all the formulations was found between pH 6.37 +/- 0.03 and 6.83 +/- 0.04. The concentration of gelling agents influenced the spreadability. Syneresis was observed in jellies made from guar gum alone, whereas those made from pectin and guar gum it was absent.The optimized formulations (F3, F11 and F15) masked the bitter taste of CBZ and demonstrated acceptable flavor and mouth feel. All formulations showed more than 50% drug release in 15 min except those made of gellan gum alone. The formulations F3, F11 and F15, were found stable for 90 days as per International Conference on Harmonization stability protocol. Carbamazepine jellies made from pectin (F3, 1.2%), gellan gum (F11, 1.5%) and pectin-guar gum (F15, 1:0.4%) were found more successful and could be employed to improve the palatability and acceptability by pediatric, geriatric and dysphagic patients. The jellies could be useful to overcome the problems of poorly soluble CBZ.