A FACTORIAL STUDY ON FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF SOLID DISPERSIONS OF NIMESULIDE EMPLOYING STARCH PHOSPHATE, PVP K-30 AND PEG 4000

  Solid dispersion is a widely accepted technique for enhancing the dissolution rate of poorly soluble BCS class II drugs. In the present study starch phosphate- a new modified starch, PVP and PEG 4000 were evaluated as a carriers in solid dispersions for enhancing the dissolution rate and efficiency of nimesulide, a BCS class II drug. Their individual and combined (interaction) effects in enhancing the dissolution rate and dissolution efficiency of nimesulide were evaluated in a 23- factorial study. Among the individual effects PEG 4000 gave highest enhancement in the dissolution rate of nimesulide (14.23 fold), followed by starch phosphate (11.34 fold). Addition of PVP and PEG 4000 to the solid dispersions in starch phosphate has further enhanced the dissolution rate upto 75.70 fold and dissolution efficiency upto 26.67 fold.   Key words: Solid dispersions, Nimesulide, Starch Phosphate, PVP, PEG 4000, Factorial Study.