A Review Article on Spansule Technology

Sayali Pagire, Aditya Shinde, Gaurav Zalte, Dnyaneshwar Shinde, Divya Shinde, Varsha Nyaharkar,

doi:10.5281/zenodo.17294601

Review Paper | Open Access
Volume 02 | Issue 10 | Article Id IJSRT/250310006

A Review Article on Spansule Technology
Sayali Pagire* Aditya Shinde Gaurav Zalte Dnyaneshwar Shinde Divya Shinde Varsha Nyaharkar
Pharmasutics, SND College of Pharmacy, Babhulgoan

Abstract

Spansule technology is a significant advancement in oral drug delivery systems, particularly in terms of controlled, sustained, and targeted release of active medicinal ingredients.Spansules are hard gelatin capsules that contain tiny coated granules or pellets, each with its own unique releasing characteristics. The fundamental concept is based on multiphasic drug delivery, in which pellets covered with different polymer thicknesses disintegrate at staggered intervals, allowing for biphasic or triphasic drug release profiles. This ensures both fast therapeutic action and prolonged drug availability in systemic circulation, resulting in constant plasma drug concentrations throughout time.The history of spansule technology dates back to the 1950s, when Dexedrine Spansules and Contac 600 were first introduced. Since then, the technology has expanded to include advanced coating materials including carnauba wax, cellulose derivatives, ethyl cellulose, Eudragit, and polyvinyl alcohol, which provide greater control over dissolving rates and release kinetics. Drug release from spansules normally follows zero-order kinetics, which reduces variations in drug levels and improves treatment effectiveness. Spansules are particularly beneficial in the treatment of chronic ailments such as attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), hypertension, pain disorders, and respiratory diseases, where stable therapeutic levels are essential. These systems also reduce dose frequency, increase patient compliance, reduce adverse effects, and safeguard sensitive medications from harsh gastrointestinal conditions.

Keywords

Spansule Technology Controlled Drug Release Sustained Release Multiphasic

Introduction

Spansule technology is a significant innovation in pharmaceutical drug delivery methods, designed to overcome the constraints of traditional dosage forms. This technology, first introduced in the early 1950s by Smith, Kline & French with products such as Dexedrine Spansules, was designed to deliver medications in a regulated and sustained manner, allowing for consistent therapeutic levels in the bloodstream over extended periods. [1,3] The term “spansule” is a combination of “span” and “capsule,” signifying the capacity to release medications gradually over time. Spansules are gelatin capsules that contain hundreds of coated pellets or granules. Each pellet is designed with distinct coating thicknesses and compositions that disintegrate at varying rates once inside the gastrointestinal tract. These coatings are often composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers, including ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), cellulose acetate phthalate, Eudragit, and carnauba wax. [2,4] By changing the coating materials, spansules can be designed to offer rapid, delayed, or sustained release, or a mix of the three—making them ideal for biphasic or triphasic drug delivery. [5] The primary purpose of spansule technology is to maintain consistent plasma medication concentrations, reduce dose frequency, reduce peak-to-trough fluctuations, and improve patient compliance. This is especially useful in chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, ADHD, and psychiatric disorders, where consistent medication levels are critical for optimal therapy. [6] Several innovative manufacturing techniques are used to manufacture spansules, including extrusion-spheronization, coacervation-phase separation, fluidized bed coating, spray drying, and pan coating. Each approach contributes to the production of homogenous, stable pellets with consistent drug release characteristics. [1,4] Despite their many advantages, spansules have significant drawbacks, including difficult production methods, greater prices, and the possibility of dose dumping if the coating’s integrity is compromised. [3] Nonetheless, the capacity to tailor drug delivery patterns and improve therapeutic outcomes makes capsule technology a promising platform in modern pharmaceutics.

Definition: - Spansules are capsules carrying medicines (in the form of granules) coated with materials that have slow dissolving rates, allowing the medicament to be supplied at different times. In other terms, it is a mix of two words, span and capsule, resulting in a capsule that slowly releases medication over a variable period of time.