The aim of the present study was to investigate how the drug release and FT-IR characteristics of metolose patches were influenced by the changes of Metolose SM 4000 (methylcellulose) and Metolose 90SH 100.000SR (hypromellose) proportions. FT-IR spectroscopy measurements were performed in parallel with the metoprolol tartrate release study to track the effect of the composition on the drug release. The metoprolol tartrate release profile of the patches was evaluated by Weibull distribution. Linear relationship was found with good correlation between the logarithm of time interval necessary to release 63.2% of metoprolol tartrate (tau(d) values) and the peak area measured within the characteristic FT-IR wavenumbers of patches. The application of FT-IR measurements can be recommended as a rapid, non-destructive screening method during the in-process control of patches.
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