ENHANCING SOLUBILITY AND DISSOLUTION OF CELECOXIB BY SPRAY DRYING TECHNIQUE

Celecoxib, a selective COX - 2 inhibitor , exhibits poor water solubility, dissolutio n and flow properties. Thus, the aim of the present study was to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of celecoxib by preparing crystals by spray drying technique using pluronic F 127 . Celecoxib crystals were produced by spray drying using TBA and w ater as co - solvent system to enhance solubility and dissolution rate. The prepared crystals were evaluated for solubility and in - vitro dissolution. The prepared formulations were characterized by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Fourier transform i nfrared spectroscopy (FT - IR), X - ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Dissolution profile of the prepared spray dried crystals was compared with recrystallized sample and pure sample . Spray dried crystals e xhibited decreased crystal linity . The solubility and dissolution of the crystals were significant ly improved compared with recrystallized sample and pure sample of celecoxib . The solubility of crystals was found to be three fold more than the pure celecoxib and dissolution of spray dried crystals showed 76 % release in 6 0 min while pure sample shows 3 5 % release in 60 min. Consequently, f rom the above result it can be conclude d that spray dried crystals of celecoxib are a useful technique to improve the solubility and dissolution of poorly water soluble drug like celecoxib .