Enhancement of Dissolution Profile of Mefenamic Acid by Solid Dispersion Technique

The oral Bioavailability of BCS (Bio Pharmaceutical Classification System) class II drug with poor solubility and reasonable permeability is limited by drug dissolution. The purpose of this research was to obtain enhancement of the dissolution profile of Mefenamic acid (MA) using solid dispersion technique with hydrophilic polymers such as poly ethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). PVP K30, HPMC, PEG, along with DCP were selected and solid dispersions were prepared by the method of solvent evaporation. Dissolution studies using the USP paddle method were performed for solid dispersions of MA. The resulting systems were subjected to Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and x-ray diffractometry (XRD) to identify the physicochemical interaction between drug and carrier, hence its effect on dissolution. IR spectroscopy, XRD, and DSC showed no change in the chemical structure of MA. The absence of MA peaks in the X-ray diffraction pattern of solid dispersion suggested conversion of crystalline MA into amorphous form. Dissolution of MA improved significantly in solid dispersion products containing drug: polymer ratio 2:2:10 (85% in 20 minutes). MA:HPMC:DCP Drug release kinetics followed first order as well as Higuchi Models. Thus the solid dispersion technique can be successfully used for improvement of dissolution of MA. The Dissolution rates & Dissolution efficiency of MA from the Solid Dispersions exhibited higher values over that of pure drugs.