Liquisolid technology applied to pellets: Evaluation of the feasibility and dissolution performance using felodipine as a model drug
Abstract This study evaluated the feasibility of liquisolid pellets as an innovative drug delivery system to improve the dissolution rate of low solubility drugs, combining the advantageous properties of multiple unit dosage forms and the liquisolid formulations. The effects of crospovidone (Kollidon(r) CL SF) as a coating and disintegrating material (4 or 8% and the type of non volatile solvent, PEG 400 or Cremophor(r) EL, on the felodipine (model drug) dissolution profile were assessed. All liquisolid formulations had increased drug dissolution rates compared to their correspondent conventional formulations. Cremophor(r) EL was more effective in improving the drug dissolution rate when compared to PEG 400 due to the formation of softer and more porous structures. The amount of crospovidone also showed remarkable positive effect on the drug dissolution. It was noticed a direct correlation between disintegration time and drug dissolution performance. The enhanced dissolution rates were attributed to the decrease in disintegration time of the pellets associated with the liquisolid microenvironment triggered by the non volatile solvents. This study consists of an innovation and expansion of the current liquisolid technology since the literature did not describe so far the development of liquisolid pellets and the use of crospovidone as a coating material in liquisolid formulations.