Mesalamine an anti-inflammatory drug, which degrades in acidic environment. Hence protection of drug is done by coating the drug with retardant coating polymers. The aim and objective of the present study was to prepare press coated tablets of mesalamine by press coating technique. Core tablets were prepared by direct compression method and evaluated for their physicochemical properties. Formulations for press coating method were selected based on physicochemical properties and in-vitro drug release characteristics. Press coated tablets were formulated by using different combinations of ethyl cellulose, HPMC E15 and cellulose acetate phthalate as a coating layer. Among the various formulations, F3 formulation containing ethyl cellulose: HPMC E15 (10:90) and F4 formulation containing ethyl cellulose: cellulose acetate phthalate (20:80) were optimized based on their better drug release within 8 hrs. SEM studies of press coated tablets showed that the surface of core tablet is uniformly coated by press coating. Stability studies are conducted for optimized formulation and results showed that the formulations were stable. As a result, press coated tablets developed in this study delivered mesalamine in the intestine and protected the drug from degradation in stomach.
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