Nimodipine (NM) tablets with high dissolution containing NM solid dispersions prepared by hot-melt extrusion

Abstract

Using a mixture of Eudragit^® EPO and polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer (PVP/VA) (Kollidon VA64) as carriers, a nimodipine solid dispersion (NM-SD) was prepared by hot-melt extrusion (HME) to achieve high dissolution. The dissolution profiles in 900 mL 0.1 mol/L HCl showed that the drug release of NM-SD reached 90% in 1 h. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize the state of NM. The results obtained showed that NM was in an amorphous form in the solid dispersion (SD). NM-SD tablets (NM-T-SD) were compressed by wet granulation and direct compression, respectively. The stability of NM-T-SD was examined during a 2-month storage period (40°C, RH 75%). The results showed that the dissolution of NM-T-SD was slightly reduced after 2 months storage (40°C, RH 75%), which implied that aging occurred to some degree. However, no NM crystals could be observed by PXRD after 2 months storage for NM-T-SD (F₁₁) prepared by direct compression.

Keywords::

• Nimodipine
• solid dispersions
• hot-melt extrusion
• dissolution
• stability

Acknowledgements

Dr. David Bjack is gratefully thanked for correcting English of the manuscript. The authors wish to express their gratitude to Ms. Sun Yunzhe and Mr. Zhou Wenliang for their assistance in literatures collection.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.