FORMULATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF DEXIBUPROFEN TABLETS BY SOLID DISPERSION TECHNIQUE

Dexibuprofen, the pharmacologically active S(+)-enantiomer of ibuprofen, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug widely used for the treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions. However, its poor aqueous solubility limits its dissolution rate and oral bioavailability. The present study aimed to enhance the dissolution characteristics of Dexibuprofen by formulating solid dispersions using gelatin and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as hydrophilic carriers through fusion, hot melt, and solvent evaporation techniques. Preliminary studies were conducted to select the most suitable preparation method based on dissolution performance. Solid dispersions prepared by the fusion and hot melt methods showed slower dissolution rates, whereas the solvent evaporation method using purified water demonstrated significantly improved solubility and dissolution behavior. Various polymer ratios were evaluated, and the solid dispersion containing gelatin and SLS in a 2:1 ratio exhibited the least dissolution time and superior drug release characteristics. The optimized solid dispersion was further loaded with Dexibuprofen and compressed into tablets. In vitro dissolution studies of the formulated tablets revealed a marked improvement in drug release compared to the pure drug, with more than 80% release within 60 minutes. The results confirm that the solid dispersion technique using gelatin and SLS is an effective approach for enhancing the dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble drugs like Dexibuprofen and can be successfully employed in tablet formulation.