Improvement of dissolution property of poorly water-soluble drug by novel dry coating method using planetary ball mill

The dissolution property of a poorly water-soluble drug, flurbiprofen (FP), was improved by a novel dry coating method using a planetary ball mill. Several mixtures composed of water-soluble additives (D-mannitol, lactose, and erythritol), light anhydrous silicic acid, and flurbiprofen were prepared. These mixtures and several starches were co-ground in a planetary ball mill, and the surface of the starches was dry coated with the mixtures. The size, appearance, yield, and drug dissolution property of the dry coated preparations were evaluated, and the optimal formulation which improved the dissolution property of poorly water-soluble flurbiprofen was determined. The dissolution rate of FP was increased by dry coating of the surface of starches with microparticulated FP. It was further increased by co-grinding of FP, starch, and a water-soluble additive, or dry coating of the starch surface with microparticulated FP and light anhydrous silicic acid, as a glidant. These co-ground and dry coated preparations could be recovered from the pot of the planetary ball mill readily without adhesion to the inside wall of the pot. These are considered to be novel, industrially applicable methods for improving the dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble drugs.