Abstract

Liquisolid formulation involves dissolution or dispersion of the drug in a liquid before formulation of solid dosage form using solid adsorbent as a carrier. The liquid component usually utilizes simple solvent system. Self emulsifying liquids can provide another alternative liquid for enhanced dissolution. The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate non-self emulsifying and self emulsifying liquisolid tablet for enhanced dissolution rate of felodipine. The former utilized polyethylene glycol 400 which was the best solvent and the later employed a mixture of castor oil with labrasol and transcutol as self emulsifying system. A mixture of avicel PH 102 and aerosil 200 was used as solid adsorbent with croscarmellose being used as superdisintegrent. Formulation of the drug as liquisolid tablets enhanced the dissolution rate compared with the standard tablet prepared using the unprocessed drug powder with the same tablet excipients. The self emulsifying tablet showed faster release pattern compared with the non-self emulsifying tablet. The thermal analysis studies indicated the presence of the drug in a solution form in the tablet formulations. In conclusion liquisolid tablet formulation can enhance the dissolution rate of felodipine with self emulsifying liquid system being more efficient.

Key words: Felodipine; dissolution; SEDDS; thermal analysis; superdisintegrant