OPTIMIZATION OF PROCESS VARIABLES FOR THE PREPARATION OF IBUPROFEN COPRECIPITATES WITH EUDRAGIT S100

The objective of this study was to optimize the technique used to prepare extended release coprecipitates of ibuprofen with Eudragit S100. The technique involved dissolution of ibuprofen and Eudragit S1OO in alcohol USP followed by the addition of cold water with agitation for a specified length of time. A four-factor full factorial design with agitation time and speed and volumes of alcohol and water was used for optimization. The dependent variables were percent recovery of ibuprofen, flowability index and geometric mean diameter of the coprecipitated granules. Mathematical relationships and response surface plots were obtained to relate the dependent and independent variables. Optimization was performed by the grid search and computer methods.