Micellar Solubilization in the Formulation Development of Poorly Soluble Naproxen

Abstract

The aim of this study was to improve the dissolution rate of naproxen using micellar solubilization technology. Cloud point temperature of the nonionic surfactants has been used as the basis for the solubility study because there is better entrapment of the drug into the surfactant micelle at this temperature. Naproxen was solubilized in polysorbate 80 micelles at cloud point temperature; lactose was dissolved in micellar dispersion and the dispersion was directly spray-dried to obtain microparticles, which was subsequently converted into tablets using suitable excipients. The spray-dried particles were characterized and in-vitro dissolution studies were carried out. Spray-dried naproxen powder and tablets made out of it by direct compression method, have exhibited superior dissolution rate over controls in all media employed irrespective of pH conditions. Therefore, it is believed that the better dissolution characteristics conferred by the micellar solubilization of naproxen and rapid wetting of microparticles.