Dissolution improvement of fenofibrate by melting inclusion in mesoporous silica

In this study, using mesoporous silica for the solubility enhancement of poorly water-soluble drug was investigated. Although the incorporating drug into mesoporous silica is generally performed through the solvent method, the new melting method was proposed in the present study. Fenofibrate, a poorly water-soluble drug, was incorporated into mesoporous silica by solvent method and melting method. The obtained samples were observed by SEM and their physicochemical properties were evaluated by PXRD and DSC measurement. The dissolution and supersaturated property were also investigated.The results from SEM, PXRD and DSC measurement showed that drug could be loaded into pore via the melting method as well as by the solvent method. The drug loaded quantity depended on the pore volume. Drug up to 33% could be incorporated into mesoporous silica and existed in amorphous state. When drug was overloaded or difficulty in incorporation into pore was found, recrystallization of drug occurred at the outer surface of mesoporous silica. From the dissolution test, samples prepared by solvent method and melting method gave the supersaturated drug concentration which sample from melting method showed superior dissolution to the one from solvent method. From this study, drug was efficiently incorporated into mesoporous silica by the melting method which is a simple and solvent-free process, and the aqueous solubility enhancement of poorly water-soluble drug was achieved.