Interactive mixture as a rapid drug delivery system.
The effectiveness of an interactive mixture as a rapid drug delivery system is compared with that of a solid dispersion. The influences of drug load, particle size, and crystallinity of these test systems are investigated. The interactive mixtures and solid dispersions were prepared from polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 and hydrophobic nifedipine drug by means of physical mixing and melting methods, respectively. The formed products were subjected to drug particle size and crystallinity analyses, and dissolution tests. In comparison with the interactive mixtures, the solid dispersions with low drug load were more effective as a rapid drug delivery system, as the size of a given batch of drug particles was markedly reduced by the molten PEG 3350. The rate and extent of drug dissolution were mainly promoted by decreasing effective drug particle size. However, these were lower in the solid dispersions than in the interactive mixtures when a high load of fine drug particles was used as the starting material. This was attributed to drug coarsening during the preparation of the solid dispersion. Unlike solid dispersions, the interactive mixtures could accommodate a high load of fine drug particles without compromising its capacity to enhance the rate and extent of drug dissolution. The interactive mixture is appropriate for use to deliver a fine hydrophobic drug in a formulation requiring a high drug load.
Lee
Chin Chiat
CC
ISP Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Singapore Science Park, Republic of Singapore.
Ong
Charlene Li Ching
CL
Heng
Paul Wan Sia
PW
Chan
Lai Wah
LW
Wong
Tin Wui
TW
D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical
D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D009543:Nifedipine