New blends of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and Gelucire 44/14: physical property and controlled release of drugs with different solubility

New blends of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC, 4000 cps) and Gelucire®44/14 (GE) were utilized to modulate the solubility and release rate of poorly water-soluble drug in a controlled manner. HPMC was used as sustained release polymer while GE was blended as a solubilizing carrier. The binary blends of HPMC and GE with proportional ratios (0, 25, 50, 70, 100%) were prepared by three different preparation methods: simple physical mixing, solvent evaporation and hot-melting. The physical properties such as surface morphology, thermal behavior and crystallinity pattern of the binary blends without loading drugs were then characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), respectively. Finally, the ternary solid dispersions (SD) were prepared by dispersing model drugs in a binary blend. Two model drugs, water-soluble acetaminophen (AAP) and poorly water-soluble pranlukast (PLK) were applied to the binary blends. In case of AAP, HPMC retarded release rate but GE had no significant solubilizing effect due to the high AAP solubility, In contrast, the release rate of PLK was efficiently modulated release rate in a controlled manner with an aid of HPMC and GE. Surely, GE could play a key role in enhancing the dissolution rate while HPMC efficiently controlled release rate of drugs without losing drug crystallinity.