OPTIMIZATION OF STATISTICALLY DESIGNED ACECLOFENAC FAST DISSOLVING TABLETS EMPLOYING STARCH GLUTAMATE AS A NOVEL SUPERDISINTEGRANT

Objective: To optimize aceclofenac fast dissolving tablets employing starch glutamate as novel superdisintegrant by 23factorial design to improve bioavailability and enhance patient compliance. Methods: Starch glutamate was prepared by the esterification process. Starch glutamate physical and micromeritics properties had been evaluated and the prepared starch glutamate was used as a superdisintegrant for the formulation of the fast dissolving tablets of aceclofenac by direct compression method and optimized by employing 23factorial design. The prepared aceclofenac fast dissolving tablets were evaluated for post compression parameters as well as in vitro and in vivo release characteristics. Optimized formulation stability studies were performed at accelerated conditions for 6 mo as per ICH and WHO guidelines. Results: The prepared starch glutamate was amorphous, insoluble in aqueous and organic solvents were tested. Fast dissolving tablets of aceclofenac were formulated by employing starch glutamate as a superdisintegrant showed good tablet properties and showed an increased dissolution efficiency of the drug. Among all the formulations (F1 to F8), the formulation F8 containing 5% concentration of starch glutamate, croscarmellose sodium and, crospovidone as a superdisintegrants showed 99.7±0.15% of drug release within 5 min. Whereas the formulation F2 containing 5% concentration of starch glutamate, drug release characters were comparable to the formulation F8. Optimized formulation F2 attained peak plasma concentration within a short period and showed increased relative bioavailability of the drug. Conclusion: From the physical properties, disintegration time, in vitro dissolution studies and pharmacokinetic studies, it was concluded that fast dissolving tablets of aceclofenac tablets formulated by employing starch glutamate as a superdisintegrant enhanced the dissolution efficiency and improved the bioavailability of the drug as compared to the pure drug and stable.