Preparation and Evaluation of Immediate Release Ibuprofen Solid Dispersions Using Polyethylene Glycol 4000

To improve its dissolution, ibuprofen solid dispersions (SDs) were prepared in a relatively easy and simple manner, characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and evaluated for solubility, in-vitro drug release and oral bioavailability of ibuprofen in rats. Loss of individual surface properties during melting and resolidification as revealed by SEM micrographs indicated the formation of effective SDs. Absence or shifting towards the lower melting temperature of the drug peak in SDs and physical mixtures in DSC study indicated the possibilities of drug–polymer interactions. FT-IR spectra showed the presence of drug crystalline in SDs. Quicker release of ibuprofen from SDs in rat intestine resulted in a significant increase in AUC and Cmax, and a significant decrease in Tmax over pure ibuprofen. Preliminary results from this study suggested that the preparation of fast dissolving ibuprofen SDs by low temperature melting method using polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG 4000) as a meltable hydrophilic polymer carrier could be a promising approach to improve solubility, dissolution and absorption rate of ibuprofen.