Formulation and Dissolution enhancement of Meloxicam tablets using Polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer and Povidone in combination

Meloxicam is a poor water soluble drug mostly prescribed in various rheumatic diseases. The present research study was design to formulate and increase the solubility of meloxicam in the tablet dosage form. A 32 full factorial design was employed to optimize meloxicam formulations. Polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer [PVCL-PVA-PEG graft copolymer] and Povidone were taken as independent variables while cumulative drug release at 90 minutes was selected as dependent variable. All trial formulations complied with official standards. Multiple regression by Microsoft Excel on cumulative drug release of the selected formulations [F1, F2, F6- F9] showed the positive effect of PVCL-PVA-PEG graft copolymer [[alpha] = 0.05] and a negative effect of Povidone [[alpha] = 0.05]. Formulation six [F6] [PVCL-PVA-PEG graft copolymer 3 mg and Povidone 22.5 mg / tablet] was considered as the optimal formulation based on its cumulative drug release. Dissolution kinetics by model dependent analysis predicted Weibull [R[2]=0.99] as the best fit model in describing meloxicam dissolution kinetics. The role of PVCL-PVA-PEG graft copolymer should be explored with other solubilizers in future studies

Studies on the quantification and comparison of dissolution profiles of two brands of meloxicam tablets

A simple model independent approach using a similarity factor [f2] and a difference factor [f1] to compare dissolution profiles as proposed by Moore and Flanner was used to evaluate the in vitro equivalence of two brands of meloxicam tablets. Our results showed that the two meloxicam formulations are not equivalent in vitro. Thus it is recommended that the same formulations should be evaluated to in vivo studies in order to find whether a co-relation exists between in vitro dissolution and in vivo bioavailability

Screening of antibacterial activity of different brands of co-trimoxazole paediatric suspension available in the local market

Sulfonamides are the drug of choice for number of infections like pneumonia, toxoplasmosis, nocardiosis, urinary tract infections. Sulfonamides are most commonly used in combinations such as [Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole] [TMP+SMZ] or co-trimoxazole. Sixty five isolates belonging to five different species, E. coli [22], S. aureus [18], Klebsiella [05], Pseudomonas [16] and Proteus [04] were used for screening antibacterial activity against different brands [A-G] of Co-trimoxazole by disc diffusion method. Brand G exhibited highest activity against E. coli with mean zone of inhibition 41mm +/-2.3 standard deviation. The antibacterial activity against other species S. aureus, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas were found as: [mean +/- standard deviation] observed as 39.73 mm +/- 10.59 mm +/- 38 mm +/- 2 and 24.93 mm +/- 5.32. However all isolates of Proteus were found resistant against different brands of co-trimoxazole