The purpose of this study was to use a ternary polymeric matrix system for high drug loading of a highly soluble drug for controlled release delivery. The controlled drug delivery of diltiazem HCl (solubility > 50% in water at $25^{circ}C$) with high loading dose (the final loading dose of drug was 34%) from a ternary polymeric matrix (gelatin, pectin, HPMC) was successfully accomplished. This simple monolithic system with 240 mg drug loading provided near zero-order release over a 24 hour-period by which time the system was completely dissolved. The release kinetics of diltiazem HCl tablet with high loading dose from the designed ternary polymeric system was dependent on the ratios of HPMC : pectin binary mixture. The release rate increased as pectin : HPMC ratio were increased. Swelling behavior of the ternary system and the ionic interaction of formulation components with cationic diltiazem molecule appear to control drug diffusion and the release kinetics. Comparable release profiles between commercial product and the designed system were obtained. The binding study between gelatin with diltiazem HCl showed the presence of two binding sites for drug interaction with subsequent controlled diffusion upon swelling. This designed delivery system is easy to manufacture and drug release behavior is highly reproducible and offers advantages over the existing commercial product.