The purpose of this study is to develop a solid dispersion system with improved dissolution, absorption, and patient compliance of poorly water-soluble celecoxib (CXB). Instead of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), an anionic surfactant used in the marketed product (Celebrex®), solubilization was performed using non-ionic surfactants with low toxicity. Cremophor RH40 (Cre-RH) was selected as the optimal solubilizer. Granules and tablets containing CXB and Cre-RH were prepared via fluid-bed and tableting processes, respectively. The morphology, crystallinity, flowability, dissolution, and pharmacokinetics for CXB-solid dispersion granules (SDGs) and the hardness and friability for CXB-solid dispersion tablets (SDTs) were evaluated. The solubility of CXB was found to be increased by about 717-fold when using Cre-RH. The dissolution of granules containing Cre-RH was found to be increased greatly compared with CXB API and Celebrex® (66.9% versus 2.3% and 37.2% at 120 min). The improvement of the dissolution was confirmed to be the same as that of granules in tablets. The CXB formulation resulted in 4.6- and 4.9-fold higher AUCinf and Cmax of CXB compared with those of an oral dose of CXB powder in rats. In short, these data suggest that the solid dispersion based on Cre-RH—a non-toxic solubilizer, non-ionic surfactant— may be an effective formulation for CXB to enhance its oral bioavailability and safety.

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of a stabilizer and matrix former in the development of a celecoxib dried nanosuspension (DNS) for high dissolution rate and drug loading. Tween 80 and Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) were used as stabilizers in the bead-milling process and dextrin was used as the matrix former in the spray-drying. Various nanosuspensions (NS) were prepared by varying the ratio of HPMC and dextrin, and the physicochemical properties of each formulation were evaluated for particle size, morphology, drug loading, crystallinity, redispersibility, physical stability and dissolution rate. HPMC efficiently stabilized the NS system and reduced the particle size of NS. The mean particle size of the NS with 0.5% HPMC (w/v) was the smallest (248 nm) of all formulations. Dextrin has been shown to inhibit the increase of particle size efficiently, which is known to occur frequently when NS is being solidified. As the dextrin increased in DNS, the dissolution rates of reconstituted NS were significantly improved. However, it was confirmed that more than the necessary amount of dextrin in DNS reduced the dissolution and drug loading. The dissolution of celecoxib in DNS prepared at the ratio (drug:dextrin, 1:2.5) was almost the highest. The dissolution of optimal formulation was 95.8% at 120 min, which was 2.0-fold higher than that of NS dried without dextrin. In conclusion, these results suggest that the formulation based on Tween 80, HPMC and dextrin may be an effective option for DNS to enhance its in vitro dissolution and in vivo oral absorption.