Methylphenidate Controlled Release Carrier System

The patent employs a composite matrix system combining hydrophilic polymers (such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, carbopol, or sodium carboxymethylcellulose) with methylphenidate. This composite structure creates a gel-forming matrix that maintains structural integrity under gastrointestinal stresses while enabling controlled drug diffusion. The hydrophilic polymer network provides mechanical strength to prevent tablet disintegration, yet allows sustained drug release through gel layer formation and diffusion mechanisms.

The patent fundamentally changes the physical state parameter of the drug carrier system by using a high viscosity liquid or gel matrix instead of traditional solid tablet formulations. This parameter change makes the formulation resistant to common abuse methods: the gel structure prevents easy grinding into powder for inhalation, the high viscosity resists solvent extraction, and the formulation maintains its integrity under mechanical stress. The abuse-deterrent properties are inherently built into the physical characteristics of the gel system rather than added as separate features.

The patent merges the drug delivery function and the structural matrix function into a single integrated gel system. Rather than using separate components (tablet core plus coating layer), the invention combines methylphenidate with hydrophilic polymers to form a unified gel matrix that simultaneously provides structural integrity and controlled release functionality. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate coating operations and reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining precise control over drug release kinetics through the gel's physical properties.