Formulation and evaluation of liquisolid compacts of diclofenac sodium.

The technique of liquisolid compacts is a promising method towards enhancing the dissolution of poorly soluble drugs. In the present study, the potential of liquisolid systems to improve the dissolution properties of water-insoluble agents was investigated using diclofenac sodium as the model drug. Several formulations of liquisolid compacts having different drug concentration (30% to 50% w/w) and with varying ratios of carrier to coat (i.e., different R values, ranging from 5 to 50) were prepared. Avicel and Aerosil were used as carrier and coat material, respectively, and propylene glycol was used as a nonvolatile liquid to prepare liquid medication. The effect of added liquid on the flowability and compressibility of the final admixture was studied and the effect of drug concentration on the dissolution pattern of diclofenac sodium was investigated. Liquisolid compacts demonstrated significantly higher drug release rates than the pure drug.