Solubility and Bioavailability Enhancement of Poorly Water-Soluble Drug Using Solid Dispersion Solubility Techniques

Abstract

Poor aqueous solubility remains one of the major challenges in oral drug delivery, often resulting in low dissolution rates and poor bioavailability. Oxaprozin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is classified as a poorly water-soluble drug, which limits its therapeutic effectiveness following oral administration. The present study aims to enhance the solubility, dissolution rate, and bioavailability of oxaprozin by employing the solid dispersion technique. Solid dispersions of oxaprozin were prepared using hydrophilic carriers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), or other suitable polymers by solvent evaporation, fusion, or spray-drying methods. The prepared formulations were evaluated for drug content, saturation solubility and  in vitro dissolution.The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the aqueous solubility and dissolution profile of oxaprozin compared to the pure drug, primarily due to reduced crystallinity, improved wettability, and molecular dispersion of the drug within the polymeric matrix. Enhanced dissolution is expected to improve the oral bioavailability of oxaprozin, leading to better therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance. This study highlights solid dispersion as an effective and promising strategy for overcoming the limitations associated with poorly water-soluble drugs and provides a potential approach for improving the pharmaceutical performance of oxaprozin.