Preparation of piroxicam microparticulated solid dispersions by spray congealing

Author(s)

Simone Vieira Pereira

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2012-03-02

Examining board members

Luis Alexandre Pedro de Freitas; Kamilla Swiech Antonietto; Armando da Silva Cunha Junior

• Advisor: Luis Alexandre Pedro de Freitas

Abstract

Piroxicam (PRX) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that presents low solubility but high permeability. When administered orally, drugs of this nature have their absorption limited by their dissolution. By increasing the solubility of PRX it is possible to increase its bioavailability. Several techniques have been proposed to increase the solubility of lowsolubility drugs. Among these techniques, solid dispersions have been the most successful. There are several ways to make solid dispersions. Spray congealing has gained attention as a very advantageous method for fabricating solid dispersions. The current work was aimed at producing and characterizing PRX solid dispersions made by spray congealing. In order to do this, several candidates for forming the melt for spray congealing were studied. Solid dispersions made using the fusion method to analyze the effect on the solubility of PRX. The influence of the use of an ultrasonic probe was also studied on the solubility of PRX was also studied. The mixture PRX, PEG 4000 and Poloxamer 407 in a ratio of 1:8:1 was chosen to use with the spray congealing method. It was also determined that the use of a 500W ultrasonic mixer at 95% of capacity during 10 minutes had positive results on the solubility of PRX. The resulting solid dispersions using the ultrasonic mixer had a solubility 4 times greater than pure PRX. Micro-particles of the PRX:PEG 4000:Poloxamer 407 melt were fabricated varying the dispersion temperature, Poloxamer 407 content and melt flow. The influence of the variables was studied using a Box-Benhken factorial design. X-Ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and infrared analysis of the samples were used to show that the fabrication process, including ultrasonic mixture, do not degrade the drug. The process does, however, promote the formation of a second form of PRX and a higher interaction between the drug and the polymers. The resulting micro-particles had irregular shapes and average diameter from 72 to 120 ìm. They also presented moderate to excellent flowability, drug content between 77.5 to 99.2% and an increase in solubility between 2.5 and 5.4 times when compared to pure PRX. Statistical analysis shows that the variables analyzed using the Box-Behnken factorial design had a statistically significant influence over the Carr index and the Hausner ratio as well as over the solubility of the micro-particles. The variables, however, had no effect over the angle of repose, drug content and average particle diameter. The measured dissolution profiles show an increase in the speed and ratio of dissolution of PRX when compared to the pure drug, physical mixtures and solid dispersions made by the fusion method. From these results one can conclude that spray congealing is a fast, efficient and promising technique for the fabrication of micro-particulate solid dispersions that aim to increase solubility and dissolution of a low-solubility drug. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/02078-9 - Preparation of piroxicam microparticulated solid dispersions by spray congealing
• Grantee: Simone Vieira Pereira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master