Improvement of dissolution properties of Meloxicam through application of the liquisolid tablet technique at gastric pH relevant to fed state in its Immediate Release Dosage form

Background: The aim of the present study was to improve dissolution of poorly soluble Meloxicam a BCS (Biopharmaceutical Classification System) Class- II Drug at gastric pH relevant to fed state using liquisolid compact technique. Method: The USFDA, CDER guidelines, states the use of USP ? II paddle apparatus at 75 RPM stirring speed using pH 7.4 phosphate buffer at 37 ± 0.5 0 C for 60 minutes. Results: The formulated liquisolid tablets were compared with normal direct compression tablets at pH 5.0 acetate buffer, using USP ? II paddle apparatus at stirring speed 75 RPM for 60 minutes at 37 ± 0.5 0 C. On the basis of optimized loading factor, the drug was first dissolved in non ? toxic hydrophilic liquids and then adsorbed on suitable carrier. Further the mass coated with silica. In order to reduce the amounts of carrier and coating material in liquisolid formulations some additives namely polyvinylpyrrolidone K- 25, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose - E3LV and polyethylene glycol - 6000 are added to liquid medication to increase loading factor. The effects of various ratios of carrier to coating material and additive concentration on dissolution rate of liquisolid compacts of Meloxicam were studied. The selected optimal formula released at a faster rate (85.02% within 15 mins) than the prepared directly compressed tablets. The spiked samples produced good accuracy at 50%, 100% and 150% recovery level. The dissolution samples were stable upto 1 week