Development and validation of an in vitro–in vivo correlation (IVIVC) model for propranolol hydrochloride extended-release matrix formulations

The objective of this study was to develop an in vitro–in vivo correlation (IVIVC) model for hydrophilic matrix extended-release (ER) propranolol dosage formulations. The in vitro release characteristics of the drug were determined using USP apparatus I at 100 rpm, in a medium of varying pH (from pH 1.2 to pH 6.8). In vivo plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters in male beagle dogs were obtained after administering oral, ER formulations and immediate-release (IR) commercial products. The similarity factor f(2) was used to compare the dissolution data. The IVIVC model was developed using pooled fraction dissolved and fraction absorbed of propranolol ER formulations, ER-F and ER-S, with different release rates. An additional formulation ER-V, with a different release rate of propranolol, was prepared for evaluating the external predictability. The results showed that the percentage prediction error (%PE) values of C(max) and AUC(0–∞) were 0.86% and 5.95%, respectively, for the external validation study. The observed low prediction errors for C(max) and AUC(0–∞) demonstrated that the propranolol IVIVC model was valid.