Fabrication and characterization of Orlistat Liquisolid tablets

The aim of the work was to improve the dissolution properties of the practically insoluble anti-obesity drug, Orlistat by utilizing liquisolid technique. Different liquisolid tablets were prepared by dissolving Orlistat in PG with Avicel PH 102 as carrier, Aerosol 200 as coating material and Sodium starch glycolate as disintegrating agent. Additives such as PVP, HPMC and HPG were incorporated into the formulations to improve dissolution characteristics. The formulated liquisolid tablets were evaluated for post compression parameters such as weight variation, hardness, friability, drug content and in-vitro dissolution studies. FT-IR study suggested that there was no chemical interaction between the drug and excipients. DSC was performed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of the liquisolid tablets, which confirm the conversion of crystalline form of the drug to the amorphous form in liquisolid tablets. The result showed that liquisolid formulation of Orlistat exhibited higher percentage of drug release than directly compressed tablets which show significant benefit of liquisolid tablet in increasing wetting properties and surface area of drug available for dissolution.