SOLUBILITY ENHANCEMENT OF CLOPIDOGREL BISULFATE BY SOLID DISPERSION TECHNIQUE USING CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE SODIUM AND XANTHAN GUM

Solid dispersions formulated to improve solubility & dissolution rate of poorly soluble drug clopidogrel bisulfate. Physical mixtures & solid dispersions of clopidogrel bisulfate were prepared with carboxymethylcellulose sodium and xanthan gum in the weight ratios of 1:1, 1:3 and 1:5 using kneading method. The prepared solid dispersions were characterized by solubility determination, drug content, In Vitro dissolution and accelerated stability studies. The results revealed that solid dispersions shown improvement in solubility and dissolution characteristics than the physical mixtures and pure drug. The reasons for increase in solubility and dissolution rate is decrease in particle size, increased surface area, amorphous state of the drug in solid dispersions, absence of aggregation and increased wetting of drug molecules. It was also observed that solid dispersions of drug with both carriers showed increased dissolution rate in the ratio of 1:5 (Drug: Carrier) in comparison to pure drug and found to be stable during stability studies.