DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF MELT- IN- MOUTH TABLETS BY SUBLIMATION TECHNIQUE

In the present study Rizatriptan benzoate, which is the bitter drug requires taste, masking. β- Cyclodextrin is used in taste masking, which improves the patient compliance and also increases the rate of dissolution. Solid dispersion of drug and β- Cyclodextrin were prepared which was optimised in 1: 8 ratios, which gave satisfactory results for taste masking. This was then characterised using Differential scanning colorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Infra Red (IR). The prepared solid dispersion was then formulated into tablets using varying concentrations (0-30%) of sublimating agents. The sublimating agents used were camphor and ammonium bicarbonate. The formulated powder blend was evaluated for angle of repose, bulk density, tapped density, Carr’s index. These powder properties showed good flowability. Tablets were formulated by direct compression. The sublimation process produced pores into the tablets, which allowed easy penetration of dissolution media followed by rapid release of the drug, which is the major aim of melt-in-mouth tablet dosage form. The tablets were evaluated for hardness, friability, disintegration time (in vitro, in vivo), drug content and dissolution. The tableting properties showed that hardness and friability were within the range. Drug content was found to be 97.79 %. The in vitro and in vivo disintegration time was within the range 18- 45 and 21-49 seconds respectively. Dissolution showed 100 % release rate within 0.5-2 minute