Preparation, physicochemical characterization and drug release studies of albendazole solid dispersions

Albendazole (ALB) solid dispersions were prepared by codissolvation and solvent evaporation technique using water soluble carrier such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to improve the aqueous solubility of the drug and thus enhancing its bioavailability. The physicochemical characteristics of these solid dispersions were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and dissolution rate analyses. SEM was used to clarify the surface and shape characteristics of the different samples. All characteristic bands of albendazole are seen in the FT-IR spectra of solid dispersions. Basically no significant changes in the frequency and shape of albendazole were noticed which leads to the conclusion that no strong interaction between the drug and the polymer exists in the solid dispersion (SD) particles. The degree of crystallinity of ALB decreased and also differed with the SD of different polymers. Dissolution rate and percent dissolution efficiency were significantly increased in the solid dispersions in comparison with drug alone. The drug release kinetics was ascertained by using F-test statistics using kinetic models of zero order, first order, Higuchi and Hixson-Crowell. Albendazole formed solid dispersions with water soluble polymers like PVP and PEG and the dissolution rate of the drug in the SD system was faster when the ratio of polymer to drug was greater. First order model may be used for explaining the kinetics of drug release from all the SD formulations as suggested by F-test.