title: Optimization of the sonication process for meloxicam nanocrystals preparation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Meloxicam, a widely recommended AINS, presents poor water solubility, which limits its bioavailability and effect onset. The objective of this study is the investigation of the most important factors that influence the efficiency of sonication in the preparation of meloxicam nanocrystals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of crucial technological sonication parameters (amplitude, time and applied cycle) on the crystal sizes and dissolution were investigated using a central composite experimental design with three factors and three levels. Different mathematical models were applied for the evaluation of the influence of each factor on the measured responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amplitude and the time were found as the most important variables. Their increase determined significant size reduction and homogeneity due to cavitation phenomenon, while the applied cycle was less important. The crystal size greatly influenced dissolution; a strong correlation was noted between small crystals and fast dissolution after freeze-drying the nanosuspensions. The optimal formulation was obtained by sonication at 100% amplitude, for 45 minutes and cycle 1, conditions which led to 600 nm crystals with 0.521 polydispersion index. The morphological analysis revealed small, round-shaped crystals with narrow size distribution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provided the optimal sonication conditions needed to obtain meloxicam nanosuspensions with high drug dissolution capacity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iurian
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Ioan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tomuţa
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rus
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Achim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Sorin E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Leucuta
keywords: design of experiments; high dissolution; meloxicam; nanocrystals; nanosuspensions