Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of incorporation of meloxicam (MEL) solid dispersions in rapidly disintegrating tablets on its dissolution rate and anti-inflammatory activity. Methods: Solid dispersions of MEL in polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG6000) were prepared using fusion melt method and were characterized in solid state by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR spectra). Results: The DSC, XRD and FTIR results showed no drug–polymer chemical interactions in the solid dispersions. MEL solid dispersions (SD1, SD2 and SD3) of ratios 1:6, 1:8 and 1:10 respectively were selected based on the dissolution enhancement and were incorporated in rapidly disintegrating tablets prepared by direct compression method. The tablets produced were found to possess good tableting properties such as disintegration time, hardness, friability and content uniformity. The tablet formulations containing the solid dispersions (SD1, SD2 and SD3) gave enhanced cumulative release compared to a formulation prepared using plain drug (PL), tablets prepared in this lab, and commercially available conventional tablets (CT). Among the tablet formulations containing solid dispersions, SD2 formulation gave maximum release (95.21%) after 30 min compared to other solid dispersion formulations and was also found to possess significantly (P>0.05) better anti-inflammatory activity than the commercial tablets (CT). Conlusion: MEL solid dispersion incorporated in rapidly disintegrating tablets can enhance both dissolution rate and anti-inflammatory activity.


Keywords:  Disintegrating   Meloxicam   PEG6000   Solid dispersions