Acta Pharm. 58 (2008) 99-110

full paper

Original research paper

Solid dispersion of meloxicam: Factorially designed dosage form for geriatric population

DEEPA PATHAK, SUNITA DAHIYA and KAMLA PATHAK

kamla_rap@yahoo.co.in

Department of Pharmaceutics, Rajiv Academy for Pharmacy, Mathura, U.P. 281001, India

Accepted November 28, 2007

The objective of the present work was to improve the dissolution properties of the poorly water-soluble drug meloxicam by preparing solid dispersions with hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), mannitol and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 and to develop a dosage form for geriatric population. Differential scanning calorimetry, X–ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the solid-state physical structure of the prepared solid dispersions. Higher in vitro dissolution of solid dispersions was recorded compared to their corresponding physical mixtures and the pure drug. PEG 4000 in 1:9 drug to carrier ratio exhibited the highest drug release (100.2%), followed by mannitol (98.2%) and HEC (89.5%) in the same ratio. Meloxicam-PEG 4000 solid dispersion was formulated into suspension and optimization was carried out by 2³ factorial design. Formulations containing higher levels of methyl cellulose and higher levels of either sodium citrate or Tween 80 exhibited the highest drug release.

Keywords: meloxicam, solid dispersion, hydroxyethylcellulose, mannitol, polyethylene glycol 4000, 2³ factorial design, geriatric formulation