ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: High melting point polymeric carrier without plasticizer is unacceptable for solid dispersion (SD) by melting method. Combined polymer-plasticizer carrier significantly affects drug solubility and tableting property of SD. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and optimize the combined effect of a binary carrier consisting PVP K30 and poloxamer 188, on nisoldipine solubility and tensile strength of amorphous SD compact (SDcompact) by experimental design. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SD of nisoldpine (SDnisol) was prepared by melt mixing with different PVP K30 and poloxamer amount. A 32 factorial design was employed using nisoldipine solubility and tensile strength of SDcompact as response variables. Statistical optimization by design expert software, and SDnisol characterization using ATR FTIR, DSC and microscopy were done. RESULTS: PVP K30:poloxamer, at a ratio of 3.73:6.63, was selected as the optimized combination of binary polymeric carrier resulting nisoldipine solubility of 115 µg/mL and tensile strength of 1.19 N/m2. DISCUSSION: PVP K30 had significant positive effect on both responses. Increase in poloxamer concentration after a certain level decreased nisoldipine solubility and tensile strength of SDcompact. CONCLUSION: An optimized PVP K30-poloxamer binary composition for SD carrier was developed. Tensile strength of SDcompact can be considered as a response for experimental design to optimize SD.
