CHARACTERIZATION OF SOLID DISPERSIONS OF PIROXICAM POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL-4000

Piroxicam is a nonsteroid anti-inflammatory that is poorly soluble in water. The present study describes the formulation of solid dispersions of the drug designed to increase solubility. X-ray diffraction. infrared spectroscopy and DSC were used to examine the physico-chemical characteristics of solid dispersions of piroxicam and polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG 4000) prepared by the melting-solvent method, using percentage proportional compositions ranging from 10:90 to 80:20. The results showed that there was no chemical interaction between the drug and the polymer, and that a solid solution of piroxicam:PEG 4000 formed at concentrations of the drug below 30%. In addition, dispersions of small crystals of piroxicam were noted in the soluble carrier, however, a eutectic mixture of the drug:polymer binary system tested was not obtained.