Abstract:
The aim of the present study was to enhance the solubility, dissolution rate and thus oral bioavailability of a poorly soluble, BCS class II drug Ziprasidone hydrochloride (ZPH), using its solid dispersions (SDs) with poloxamer 188 (PX) and HPMC E15.Solid dispersions were prepared by co-grinding, kneading, freeze drying and microwave methods. The dispersions were evaluated for various in vitro parameters such as solubility study, dissolution study, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microwave generated solid dispersions in 1:5 ZPH – PX ratio exhibited significant improvement in solubility and dissolution rate compared to that of pure drug. The superior dissolution profile observed for microwave induced solid dispersions is attributed to amorphization of the drug by microwaves, improved surfactant and wetting characteristics of the carrier with the drug. Thus, microwave technology offers a simple, efficient, solvent free promising alternative method to prepare solid dispersion of ZPH with significant enhancement of the in vitro dissolution rate.

Keywords: Solid Dispersion, Microwave Method, Freeze Drying Method, Ziprasidone HCL, Poloxamer 188, HPMC E15, Solubility, Dissolution.