title: Controlled precipitation for enhanced dissolution rate of flurbiprofen: development of rapidly disintegrating tablets.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to investigate the potential of controlled precipitation of flurbiprofen on solid surface, in the presence or absence of hydrophilic polymers, as a tool for enhanced dissolution rate of the drug. The work was extended to develop rapidly disintegrated tablets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This strategy provides simple technique for dissolution enhancement of slowly dissolving drugs with high scaling up potential.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aerosil was dispersed in ethanolic solution of flurbiprofen in the presence and absence of hydrophilic polymers. Acidified water was added as antisolvent to produce controlled precipitation. The resultant particles were centrifuged and dried at ambient temperature before monitoring the dissolution pattern. The particles were also subjected to FTIR spectroscopic, X-ray diffraction and thermal analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FTIR spectroscopy excluded any interaction between flurbiprofen and excipients. The thermal analysis reflected possible change in the crystalline structure and or crystal size of the drug after controlled precipitation in the presence of hydrophilic polymers. This was further confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The modulation in the crystalline structure and size was associated with a significant enhancement in the dissolution rate of flurbiprofen. Optimum formulations were successfully formulated as rapidly disintegrating tablet with subsequent fast dissolution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Precipitation on a large solid surface area is a promising strategy for enhanced dissolution rate with the presence of hydrophilic polymers during precipitation process improving the efficiency.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tanta University , Tanta , Egypt.
authors.forename: Ebtessam A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Essa
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tanta University , Tanta , Egypt.
authors.forename: Amira O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Elmarakby
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tanta University , Tanta , Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed M A
authors.initials: AMA
authors.lastname: Donia
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tanta University , Tanta , Egypt.
authors.forename: Gamal M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: El Maghraby
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry*; D005480:Flurbiprofen / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013607:Tablets / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D005079:Excipients; D011108:Polymers; D013607:Tablets; D005480:Flurbiprofen
keywords: Flurbiprofen; controlled precipitation; enhance dissolution; fast disintegrating tablets