Development of Immediate Release Liquid Fill Formulations for Soft Gels of Paracetamol

The present investigation includes the preparation and evaluation of liquid filling formulations for soft gels using an analgesic drug Paracetamol, in order to improve its dissolution properties and there by its bioavailability. Formulations were prepared using excipients like poly ethylene glycol 400(PEG 400), propylene glycol(PG), polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVPK-30), DMSO, antioxidants, ethanol, and purified water. Prepared formulations were evaluated for appearance, pH, drug content uniformity, viscosity, stability, and in-vitro dissolution studies. The compatability between the drug and excipients was confirmed by FTIR spectra. The drug contents of the liquid fill formulations were found to be in the range of 60.3499.31 and the viscosity was in the range of 37.95-1056.46 cps. Formulations containing water/PEG/PG system gave better dissolution than other formulations. Formulation F3 is having superior release properties(100% drug release in 4min) when compared to those with different concentrations of PVPK-30(F7&F8) and those with antioxidants like BHT(F5%F6), hence F3 was selected as optimized fromulation.This confirms that water/PEG/PG system is better for Paracetamol release than Ethanol/PEG/PG and PVP/PEG/PG systems. Stability studies were conducted for all the formulations for a period of 6 months at room temperature(30oC/65%RH). From these studies, it can be concluded that Paracetamol liquid formulations for soft gels were successfully prepared with in vitro dissolution properties superior when compard to Paracetamol itself.