DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF SPHERICAL AGGLOMERATED CRYSTALS LOADED FAST DISOLVING TABLETS FOR ENHANCING THE SOLUBILITYOF MEFENAMIC ACID

The objective of the present work was to study the effect of different polymers on the solubility and dissolution rate of Mefenamic acid a poorly water soluble NSAIDs, by spherically agglomeration using methanol, water and dichloromethane as good solvent, poor solvent and bridging liquid, respectively. The quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion technique was used as a method for spherical agglomeration. Spherical agglomeration of Mefenamic acid were prepared by using Poloxomer -F338 and Gelucire 48/16 in the ratio of 1:0.5,1:0.75,1:1. The agglomerates were subjected to various physicochemical evaluations such as practical yield, drug content, solubility, flow properities, average particle size,scanning electron microscopy and dissolution studies. The optical electron microscopy studies showed that the agglomerates posseeses a good spherical shape. This study, demonstrated that the successful development of directly compressible spherical agglomerates of Mefenamic acid prepared with selected carrires enhances the in-vitro dissolution property of Mefenamic acid, whichcould provide rapid onset of action and potentially increases oral bioavailability. To study the influence of co-processed superdisintegrants on performance of Mefenamic acid Fast dissolving tablets, a set of three formulations (F7, F8, F9) were prepared using co-processed superdisintegrants (Croscarmalose sodium:Crospovidone) in three different ratios 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 respectively. The formulation prepared with co-processed superdisintegrants (Croscarmalose sodium: Crospovidone) in 1:3 ratio (F9) was offered relatively rapid release of Mefenamic acid when compared with other ratios employed in this investigation. Key words: Mefenamic acid, Poloxomer -F338, Gelucire 48/16, spherically agglomeration