Solid dispersions of nifedipine (NDP), a poorly water-soluble drug, and amino methacrylate copolymer (AMCP) with aid of adsorbent, that is, fumed silica, talcum, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, and mesoporous silica from rice husks (SRH), were prepared by solvent method. The physicochemical properties of solid dispersions, compared to their physical mixtures, were determined using powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The surface morphology of the prepared solid dispersions was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dissolution of NDP from solid dispersions was compared to NDP powders. The effect of adsorbent type on NDP dissolution was also examined. The dissolution of NDP increased with the ratio of NDP:AMCP:adsorbent of 1:4:1 when compared to the other formulations. As indicated from PXRD patterns, DSC thermograms and SEM images, NDP was molecularly dispersed within polymer carrier or in an amorphous form, which confirmed the better dissolution of solid dispersions. Solid dispersions containing SRH provided the highest NDP dissolution, due to a porous nature of SRH, allowing dissolved drug to fill in the pores and consequently dissolve in the medium. The results suggested that solid dispersions containing adsorbents (SRH in particular) demonstrated improved dissolution of poorly water-soluble drug when compared to NDP powder.
Keywords: Adsorbent; Amino methacrylate copolymer; Mesoporous silica from rice husks; Nifedipine; Poorly water-soluble drug; Solid dispersion.
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