Solubility and Dissolution enhancement of paracetamol using in situ micronization by solvent change method

International audienceDissolution is the rate-limiting step for the absorption of drugs in class II of the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) resulting in poor bioavailability. This present study was aimed at determining the outcome of in situ micronization technique on the dissolution and solubility profiles of paracetamol. Six formulations of paracetamol microcrystals were produced by the solvent change method using HPMC and PVP K30 as stabilizing agents. The solubility, percentage drug content, and dissolution patterns of the produced microcrystals were all tested. The study revealed that paracetamol solubility was increased up to 5-fold in the PVP K30 stabilized paracetamol microcrystal and a 4.5-fold increase for HPMC stabilized paracetamol microcrystal. The time course of dissolution was improved significantly from 0.6%/min for plain paracetamol to 1.1%/min and 1.2%/min for HPMC and PVP K30 stabilized paracetamol microcrystal respectively. Formulation P6, with 0.08 g of PVP K30 as stabilizing agents and anti-solvent to solvent ratio of 1:6 was the optimized formulation having a 5-fold solubility increase, 98.3% content of active and 95.32% drug release in 60 minutes. The solvent change approach of the in situ micronization technique could be used for the augmentation of solubility and dissolution of paracetamol