Formulation and evaluation of Liquisolid compact of Nitrofurantoin

This study focuses on improving the solubility and dissolution rate of Nitrofurantoin, a water-insoluble antimicrobial agent, using the liquisolid compact technique. Liquisolid technology offers a promising approach to enhance the bioavailability of poorly soluble, lipophilic drugs by converting them into dry, free-flowing, and compressible powder blends. In this research, Nitrofurantoin was dissolved in various non-volatile solvents such as Tween 20 and PEG 400 to create liquid drug formulations. These formulations were then adsorbed onto carrier materials like microcrystalline cellulose and coated with Talc to produce liquisolid powders. The resulting tablets were evaluated for both pre-compression (flow properties) and post-compression characteristics, including hardness, friability, disintegration time, and in vitro drug release. Results demonstrated a significant improvement in the dissolution rate of Nitrofurantoin from the liquisolid tablets compared to those prepared by direct compression. This enhancement is likely due to the increased surface area, improved wetting, and better solubilization of the drug in the chosen non-volatile solvents. Overall, the study confirms that the liquisolid compact technique is an effective and practical strategy to enhance the dissolution profile of Nitrofurantoin, which may lead to improved therapeutic outcomes.