Preparation and characterization of amorphous solid dispersions of nimesulide in cyclodextrin copolymers

A study to enhance the dissolution rate of nimesulide (NIM), a poorly water-soluble, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was carried out through developing new amorphous solid dispersions (ASD) based on soluble or insoluble water cyclodextrin copolymers (alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin and y-cyclodextrin polymers) synthesized by direct melt polycondensation. Amorphous solid dispersions of NIM in cyclodextrin copolymers, obtained by solvent evaporation, were characterized by thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). These analyses provided the existence of interactions between amorphous drug and its carrier. A burst release of more than 80% NIM within approximately 70 minutes was seen with soluble alpha-cyclodextrin polymers (poly-alpha-sol) and insoluble gamma-cyclodextrin polymers (poly-gamma-insol) where no significant differences were observed with the other copolymers. Mathematical kinetic models such as zero order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas were used to evaluate the kinetic and mechanism of release of NIM from the different ASD compared to lactose reference matrix. The kinetic of release of NIM from different ASD followed a Higuchi model and the mechanism of release was explained by Korsmeyer-Peppas model in which a fickian diffusion for lactose and soluble beta-cyclodextrin polymers (poly-beta-sol) was observed. However, an anomalous non-Fickian transport was found for the other copolymers.