Implementing liquisolid compact technique for dissolution rate enhancement of rosuvastatin calcium

Abstract

Aim: The main aim of the investigation was to enhance the dissolution rate of rosuvastatin calcium by formulating it as a liquisolid tablet and compare with a marketed formulation. Materials and Methods: Rosuvastatin calcium liquisolid tablets were formulated using propylene glycol and PEG 400 as a non-volatile liquid vehicle, Avicel pH 102, and Aerosil 200 as carrier and coating material, sodium starch glycolate as superdisintegrant. The formulated rosuvastatin calcium liquisolid tablet was evaluated for pre-compression parameters to increase the flow property of the drug and post-compression parameters. The in vitro drug release characteristics of rosuvastatin calcium liquisolid formulation were performed using pH 6.8 phosphate buffer as dissolution media and compared with the marketed formulation and direct compressible tablet. The analytical study of drug excipient interaction of rosuvastatin calcium was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and DSC analysis. Results and Discussion: The solubility profile of rosuvastatin calcium in propylene glycol and PEG 400 was found to be higher than the other non-volatile liquid vehicle. The formulated rosuvastatin calcium liquisolid tablet (F1, F2, F3, F5, and F6) has accepted flow properties. The post-compression evaluation data of thickness, weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration, drug content comply with the Indian Pharmacopoeia limits. Among the eight liquisolid formulations (F2) showed the highest percentage of drug release 99% at 60 min, whereas, marketed formulation showed 86.2% of drug release at 60 min. The FT-IR analysis revealed that there is no interaction between drug and excipient. DSC analysis of liquisolid formulation (F2) confirmed the conversion of crystalline state to amorphous form. A significant difference (P = 0.002 < 0.05) was found in the dissolution rate of the best formulation (F2) when compared with the marketed formulation. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the research work that liquisolid compact technique is a promising method of approach for the dissolution rate enhancement of rosuvastatin calcium due to increased wetting property and more drug surface exposed to the dissolution medium.