Polyelectrolyte-based solid dispersions for enhanced dissolution and pH-Independent controlled release of sildenafil citrate.
Heliyon 2023;
9:e23091. [PMID:
38144296 PMCID:
PMC10746450 DOI:
10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23091]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to design a novel matrix tablet with enhanced dissolution and pH-independent controlled release of sildenafil citrate (SIL), a drug with pH-dependent solubility, by using solid dispersions (SDs) and polyelectrostatic interactions. SIL-loaded SDs were prepared using various polymeric carriers such as poloxamer 188, poloxamer 407, Soluplus®, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) K 12, and PVP K 17 by the solvent evaporation method. Among these polymers, Soluplus® was found to be the most effective in SDs for enhancing the drug dissolution over 6 h in pH 6.8 intestinal fluid. SIL was well dispersed in Soluplus®-based SDs in an amorphous form. When the Soluplus®-based SDs were added in the tablet containing positively charged chitosan and negatively charged Eudragit® L100, the drug release rate was further modulated in a controlled manner. The charge density of the tablet was higher at pH 6.8 than at pH 1.2 due to the polyelectrostatic interaction between chitosan and Eudragit® L100. This interaction could provide a pH-independent controlled release of SIL. Our study demonstrates that a combinatory approach of Soluplus®-based SDs and polyelectrostatic interactions can improve the dissolution and pH-independent release performance of SIL. This approach could be a promising pharmaceutical strategy to design a matrix tablet of poorly water-soluble drugs for the enhanced bioavailability.
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