Physicochemical properties of the binary system glibenclamide and polyethylene glycol 4000

Solid dispersions of the antidiabetic drug glibenclamide and polyethylene glycol 4000 (macrogol 4000) were prepared by the melting method in order to increase the solubility of this poorly water-soluble compound. The temperature/composition phase diagram of the components was analyzed by hot-stage microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, showing a monotectic. Polarized light hot stage microscopy and X-ray-powder diffraction confirmed, that glibenclamide is mainly present in a non-crystalline state after melting and solidifying of a 10% (w/w) mixture, which results in an enhanced solubility compared to physical mixtures. The solubility and dissolution rate of the drug increases clearly with decreasing drug/polymer ratio. Moreover, it was observed for the first time that a drug could crystallize as whiskers at the surface of aged solid dispersion particles. Besides relaxation phenomena, this crystallization mechanism may be responsible for a deterioration of liberation properties and bioavailability of solid dispersion based drug products with increasing storage time.