MCM-41 for furosemide dissolution improvement

The ordered mesoporous silica material MCM-41 was used to prepare a novel drug delivery system (DDS) for oral administration of the diuretic furosemide (FURO), labeled in class IV of the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). This drug is characterized by both low solubility and permeability and its absorption window is the stomach and the proximal small intestine. Thus, the aim of this work was the development of an immediate formulation that could improve the drug release in its preferential absorptive regions.Three inclusion products MCM-41-FURO-E/D, MCM-41-FURO-S and MCM-41-FURO-E have been prepared in three different ways in order to find the best preparation conditions. They were characterized by XRPD, DSC, FT-IR, TGA and B.E.T. and then the inclusion products displaying the best characteristics were submitted to in vitro studies. They evidenced that the examined inclusion products displayed FURO dissolution enhancement, followed by a complete release within 90 min. Moreover, physical stability studies revealed that MCM-41 is able to stabilize the drug preventing it from re-crystallization. At last, as FURO is light sensitive, the effect of MCM-41 on drug photochemical stability was also investigated and the results indicated the protective action exerted by the matrix.

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► FURO is absorbed into MCM-41 in non-crystalline form.
► The inclusion of FURO into MCM-41 increases its dissolution.
► The drug molecules stored into MCM-41 pores are physically stabilized.