PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND TLC FINGERPRINTING FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF FAST DISINTEGRATING TABLETS OF FENOFIBRATE

Fenofibrate is a drug of the fibrate class. It is a widely used hypolipidemic drug. The poor aqueous solubility of the drug leads to variable dissolution rates. It is slightly soluble in water. Fast disintegrating tablets (FDTs) of Fenofibrate were prepared using different concentrations of superdisintegrants using wet granulation method. The technique is to increase the bioavailability of the tablets and drug release in the patients. The porous granules were then compressed in to tablets. The blend was examined for angle of repose, bulk density, tapped density, compressibility index and Hausner's ratio. The prepared tablets were evaluated for hardness, friability, in vitro disintegration time and in vitro dissolution studies. Fast disintegrating tablets (FDTs) have received ever-increasing demand during the last decade and the field has become a rapidly growing area in the pharmaceutical industry. Fast disintegrating tablets (FDTs) are those solid dosage forms when put on tongue, disintegrate or dissolve instantaneously, releasing the drug, within a few seconds without the need of water. Fast disintegrating tablets (FDTs) aim for designing dosage forms, convenient to be manufactured and administered, free of side effects, offering immediate release and enhanced bioavailability, to achieve better patient compliance. Fast disintegrating tablets have been formulated for pediatric, geriatric, and bedridden patients and for active patients who are busy and traveling and may not have access to water. Such formulations provide an opportunity for product life extension in the many elderly persons which have difficulty in taking conventional oral dosage form (viz., solutions, suspensions, tablets, and capsules) because of hand tremors and dysphasia. The current article is focused on ideal requirements, need for development of FDTs, suitability of drug candidates, super disintegrants employed. Keywords: Fast disintegrating tablets (FDTs), Super disintegrants, Enhanced bioavailability, Patient's compliance, Evaluation, dysphasia.