Naproxen-Gelucire Nanoformulations for Improved Solubility and Dissolution Rate of Poorly Water-Soluble Drug Naproxen

Abstract

Naproxen-Gelucire Nanoformulations (NFs) in terms of their phase solubility behavior, physico-chemical characteristics, cytotoxicity and morphology and dissolution enhancement has been studied using the poorly water soluble drug, naproxen. The NFs were prepared via wet milling using a conventional Retsch Planetary ball mill in various ratios of drug to polymer (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4). The release rate of naproxen from various ratios of drug/polymer nanoparticles was investigated using USP paddle apparatus (type II). A comparative phase solubility of naproxen was performed in different carrier concentrations of simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) and simulated intestinal fluid (pH 6.8). The highest dissolution enhancement was achieved for the formulation with ratio of 1:4. This is a 160% enhancement when compared to that of the pure drug. The ability of amphiphillic surfactant carriers to accelerate in vitro dissolution of poorly water-soluble drugs has been attributed to wetting, micellar solubilization, and/or deflocculation. The Korsemeyer-Peppas model most aptly fits the in vitro dissolution data and gives an insight into the possible drug release mechanisms predominated by anamolous non-Fickian diffusion. Thus, the nanoformulations studied can help improve the physicochemical characteristics of naproxen towards its dissolution enhancement and possibly will increase the oral bioavailability of the drug without any adverse cytotoxic consequences.