ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To prepare porous starch foam to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of dabigatran etexilate. METHODS: Porous starch foam (PSF) was synthesized as a carrier by solvent exchange method. Dabigatran etexilate (DE) was loaded onto the nanopores of PSF by solvent evaporation method. Scanning electron microscopy was used for investigating the morphology and structure of PSF. The dispersal state of DE in drug-loaded sample (PSF-DE) was determined by differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffraction and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The dissolution rate was measured by in-vitro dissolution experiment. RESULTS: Porous starch foam was prepared successfully and the spatial restriction of nanopores effectively suppressed crystal-linity of dabigatran etexilate as shown by structure characterization. The in-vitro dissolution experiment showed that the dissolution rate; of dabigatran etexilate was improved significantly. CONCLUSION: Porous starch foam can improve the hydrophilicity of the poorly water-soluble drug dabigatran etexilate.