Solid Dispersion- an Approach to Enhance the Dissolution Rate of Aceclofenac by Using 3 Factorial Design

Aceclofenac is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent used in the management of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The objective of the present work was to investigate the effect of different types of carriers such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) as solubilizer on in vitro dissolution of aceclofenac. Aceclofenac solid dispersions were prepared using 32 factorial design by fusion and solvent evaporation method with PEG 6000, PVP & SLS. Prepared aceclofenac solid dispersions were evaluated for physical appearance, drug content uniformity, and in vitro dissolution studies. The dissolution was determined by USP XXIII apparatus using phosphate buffer pH 7.4. The highest aceclofenac dissolution rate, 99.87% in 60 minutes, was obtained from solid dispersion containing SLS (ASS7) prepared by solvent evaporation method. The general trend indicated that there was an increase in dissolution rate for solid dispersions prepared in following order SLS>PVP>PEG 6000. IR and DSC studies showed no chemical change between drug and polymer and aceclofenac is homogeneously distributed in an amorphous state within the carrier and no aceclofenac crystallized out of the dispersions. The formulations studied were found to be stable. Finally it may be concluded that, dissolution rate of aceclofenac can be increased by solid dispersion technique, which may be due to increased hydrophilic nature of carrier and also possibly due to reduction in drug crystallinity.