Abstract

The aim of the investigation is to improve the dissolution, wettability, and micromeritic behavior of domperidone, a dopamine antagonist, used in the treatment of nausea and vomiting. Micropelletization technique, a possible approach for ensuring maximum dissolution with enhanced wettability, and uniform pellet size almost spherical so as to achieve the smooth gastric transit of drug have been estimated. Micropellets were prepared utilizing solvent diffusion technique and all the process parameters such as solvent-non-solvent ratio, stirring speed, temperature, and effect of aggregating agent on the micropellets formulation have been optimized. The addition of an aggregating agent (10%v/v of isopropyl alcohol) improved the uniform micropellets formation and the method was reproducible. The micromeritic properties such as size distribution, surface property (using Scalar-USB digital photomicroscope), packability, and flowability of the formulated micropellets were characterized. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis were performed to explain the results. Formulated micropellets showed clear and highly improved in vivo dissolution behavior, probably due to high wettability. The micropelletized drug was stable at room temperature, 25°C/60% relative humidity (RH), and 45°C/70% RH, after 12 weeks.

Keywords: Spherical micropellets, microcrystals, domperidone, in vitro-dissolution, aggregating agen