Development and characterization of Amorphous Solid Dispersion using Wurster

Technology
Shruti Das1, Animesh Ghosh*
Solid State Pharmaceutics Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences &
Technology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi - 835215, Jharkhand, INDIA
Email-aghosh@bitmesra.ac.in
Solid dispersions are used to transform a drug into a more soluble form by dispersing it
within a polymeric carrier. There are several methods for the formulation of solid dispersions
like hot melt extrusion, solvent evaporation, cryogenic milling, melt-solvent method, and by
employing a fluidized bed dryer.1 Fluidized bed dryers are commonly used in industries
where coating is carried out by the fluidization of sugar spheres while a coating solution is
being sprayed on them.2
Aceclofenac (BCS Class II) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administered
for ailments like rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. A notable challenge with aceclofenac is its
limited solubility which is around (0. 0035 mg/mL) and hence dissolution becomes the rate-
limiting step for absorption .3 When taken orally, aceclofenac shows a bioavailability of 15%
of the administered dose.1 The present study was aimed at tailoring the physicochemical
properties of aceclofenac by the formulation of a solid dispersion using fluidized bed
technology to address the poor aqueous solubility issues of the drug and hence improve its
dissolution rate. A coating solution of aceclofenac and HPMC was sprayed onto the sugar
spheres using Wurster process. The confirmation of the prepared solid dispersions will be
further carried out using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric
analysis (TGA), X-Ray diffraction analysis( P-XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared
Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis.

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