Abstract

The purpose of this study was to use polyethylene glycol as a carrier to improve the solubility of an aqueous insoluble drug by melting and molding method. The release of dissolved drug was designed to be subsequently sustained with an addition of xanthan gum. The release of indomethacin from the developed system into phosphate buffer pH 6.2 was conducted using the dissolution apparatus. This carrier system could effectively enhance the solubility of indomethacin and an addition of xanthan gum could sustain the drug release. Eudragit L100 film coating could protect the carrier not to be disturbed with HCl buffer pH 1.2 and could dissolve in phosphate buffer pH 6.2, therefore, the drug release from coated tablet was initially very low but subsequently gradually released and prolonged in phosphate buffer pH 6.2. Differential scanning calorimetry study indicated the amorphous state of drug in polyethylene glycol carrier. Scanning electron microscopy photomicrograph indicated the drug diffusion outward through the porous network of matrix tablets into the dissolution fluid and curve fitting signified that the drug release kinetic was Fickian diffusion.