A FACTORIAL STUDY ON FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT OF IBUPROFEN TABLETS EMPLOYING STARCH 1500 AND PVP K 30

Ibuprofen, a widely prescribed anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug belongs to class II under BCS and exhibit low and variable oral bioavailability due to its poor aqueous solubility. Solid dispersion of ibuprofen in Starch 1500, a modified starch and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP K 30) was investigated to enhance the dissolution rate and to develop ibuprofen tablets with fast dissolution characteristics. The individual and combined (interaction) effects of Starch 1500 and PVP K 30 on the dissolution rate of ibuprofen solid dispersions and tablets were evaluated in a series of 2² – factorial experiments. Solid dispersions and tablets of ibuprofen were formulated employing selected combinations of Starch 1500 and PVP K 30 as per 2² – Factorial design and were evaluated. The individual and combined effects of Starch 1500 and PVP on the dissolution rate of solid dispersions as well as tablets were highly significant (P<0.01). Solid dispersion of ibuprofen in Starch 1500 enhanced the dissolution rate of ibuprofen by 1.40 fold. Addition of PVP K30 to the solid dispersion in Starch 1500 has further enhanced the dissolution rate by 2.31 fold. Drug – PVP K30 solid dispersion gave highest enhancement in the dissolution rate (3.43 fold) of ibuprofen. Tablets formulated employing solid dispersions of ibuprofen in Starch 1500 gave highest enhancement in the dissolution rate, 3.69 fold increase when compared to the plain tablets prepared with ibuprofen as such. Tablets prepared employing drug – PVP K 30 and drug – Starch 1500 – PVP K 30 solid dispersions gave relatively low dissolution. Though PVP K 30 gave highest dissolution rate in solid dispersions, it hindered and lowered the dissolution rate of tablets because of its binding property. Ibuprofen tablets formulated employing solid dispersions in Starch 1500 gave very fast dissolution, 85% in 10 min. Hence ibuprofen tablets with fast dissolution characteristics could be developed employing its solid dispersions in Starch 1500.