Formation and characterization of solid dispersions of piroxicam and polyvinylpyrrolidone using spray drying and precipitation with compressed antisolvent

Solid dispersions of a poorly water-soluble drug piroxicam in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were prepared by precipitation with compressed antisolvent (PCA) and spray drying techniques. Physicochemical properties of the products and drug-polymer interactions were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry, etc. Piroxicam was found amorphously dispersed in both solid dispersion systems with the drug to polymer weight ratio of 1:4. Spectra data indicated the formation of hydrogen bonding between the drug and the polymer. Both techniques evaluated in this work resulted in improved dissolution of piroxicam. By comparison, PCA-processed solid dispersions showed distinctly superior performance in that piroxicam dissolved completely within the first 5 min and the dissolution rate was at least 20 times faster than raw drug did within the first 15 min. PCA processing could provide an effective pharmaceutical formulation technology to improve the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drug. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.