Abstract

Pioglitazone an oral hypoglycaemic second generation agent is characterized by low solubility in gastric fluid, low dissolution rate and inter-individual variability in bioavaibility. The objective of study was therefore to design optimized solid dispersion of Pioglitazone with polymer like Croscarmellose sodium and sodium starch glycolate. The binary systems i.e. both physical mixtures as well as solid dispersions were prepared with drug and polymers. The solid dispersions were prepared by solvent evaporation method. Infrared spectroscopy was performed to identify any physicochemical interaction between the drug and the carrier. Tablets containing best solid dispersion formulation, optimized, having Croscarmellose sodium (1:5 ratio of Pioglitazone & Croscarmellose sodium) were formulated and compared with the commercial conventional release product. The tablets formulation under investigation was then characterized for their various physicochemical properties such as weight variation, percentage friability, disintegration and in vitro dissolution profiles. A significant improvement in the dissolution of Pioglitazone in solid dispersion products has been observed (>91% within 60 minutes). Tablets containing solid dispersion exhibited better dissolution profile than commercial tablets with same release kinetics i.e. higuchi model. Thus, it may be concluded that solid dispersion technique can be successfully used for the improvement of dissolution of Pioglitazone.