Hydrophilic matrices are an interesting option when developing an oral sustained-release formulation. They can be used for controlled release of both water-soluble and water-insoluble drugs. The present work is related with exploitation of tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP) as an excipient in drug delivery systems. The main aim of proposed work is to focus on the possibilities of using this polysaccharide in industries with particular reference to its physical, chemical properties for the formation of new drug delivery systems. This objective motivates for developing newer synthetic excipient and exploiting the presently own limitation in term of toxicity, compatibility and cost effectiveness. Present study aimed at development and characterization of sustained release matrix tablet of lamivudine by using combination of TSP with ethylcellulose for treatment of HIV. The matrix tablets of lamivudine were prepared by direct compression method and evaluated for it’s drug release characteristics. The drug release was decreased with the increase in TSP concentration and with the addition of ethylcellulose. Drug release kinetics was explained by Higuchi’s equation, as the plots showed the highest linearity, but a close relationship was also noted with zero-order kinetics. The in vivo investigation in rabbits showed sustained release pharmacokinetic profile of lamivudine from the matrix tablets formulated using TSP and ethylcellulose. The optimized formulation was also subjected for stability testing and was found to have good stability with no appreciable drug degradation. Hence, it was found to be a better combination for the formulation of sustained release matrix tablets of lamivudine.
