Solubility enhancement of celecoxib using solidified Tween 80 for the formulation of tablet dosage forms

Celecoxib is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis, and several other inflammatory disorders. It is a class II compound according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System owing to its low water solubility and high membrane permeability. The objective of this study was to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of celecoxib using solid surfactant technology that might be useful in developing solid dosage forms. Solid surfactant was developed by mixing and grinding together a liquid surfactant (Tween 80) with various inorganic carriers like Fujicalin®(Dibasic Calcium Phosphate Anhydrous), Pineflow®(Porous-structured Maltodextrin), Neusilin®(Magnesium Alumino metasilicate) and Aerosil®(Colloidal Silicon dioxide) in a mortar and pestle in different ratios of liquid surfactant and the carrier to obtain solid surfactants. The celecoxib tablets prepared with solid surfactants were then evaluated for their solubility and dissolution properties. Among the fillers used, Fujicalin showed the highest solubilization capacity for celecoxib. The dissolution behaviors of various tablets prepared with solidified surfactants were compared to those of conventional celecoxib tablets in a simulated gastric fluid. Celecoxib tablets prepared using solidified surfactants showed improved dissolution behaviors when compared to the conventional counterparts. Fujicalin solidified Tween 80 was further analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorimetry thermographs and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography.