DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SOLID DISPERSION OF QUERCITIN LOADED ORAL WAFERS

Quercetin (3, 3ʹ, 4ʹ, 5, 7-pentahydroxyl-flavone) is a flavonol, belonging to the class of plant secondary metabolites known as flavonoids. Quercetin and its derivatives have various beneficial effects against ailments like inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer. The present research work aimed to prepare and characterize quercetin’s solid dispersion (SD) to enhance solubility and thereby dissolution profile and further incorporate it into oral wafers. The solvent evaporation method was used to prepare solid dispersions using the polymer polyethylene glycol 6000 and pluronic F127. The drug and polymers were compatible, as evident from the FTIR data. The optimized batch was further evaluated by FTIR, DSC, PXRD & SEM. Wafers were prepared by solvent casting method using HPMC (5 & 15 cps), PVA, and plasticizer PEG (200,400) and propylene glycol. Quercitin-loaded SD was added to the polymer solution during casting. Highest drug release of 82.96 ± 1.76 % in 240 min was obtained with a drug to carrier ratio (1:1.5). It followed Higuchi’s model when the amount of solvent was 20 ml. The drug was uniformly dispersed in the carrier, and crystallinity was significantly reduced as reflected in DSC, PXRD, and SEM results. The prepared SD showed a significant increase in solubility and dissolution profile. The data evidenced that the optimum amount of solvent was critical in modulating release rates. Hence, this strategy could be a promising option for the enhancement of solubility as well as dissolution profiles of quercetin.