Formulation and evaluation of meloxicam oral disintegrating tablet with dissolution enhanced by combination of cyclodextrin and ion exchange resins

Abstract

Context: The bitter taste of drug is masked by the exchange of ionized drugs with counter ions of ion exchange resin, forming "resinate". Cyclodextrin reduces the unpleasant taste and enhances the drug solubility by encapsulating drug molecules into its central cavity.

Objective: Oral disintegrating tablets (ODTs) using the combination of ion exchange resin and cyclodextrin was developed, to mask the bitter taste and enhance drug dissolution.

Methods: Meloxicam (MX) was selected as a model drug. Formulations containing various forms of MX (free drug, MX-loaded resin or resinate, complexes of MX and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) or MX/HPβCD complexes, and a mixture of resinate and MX/HPβCD complexes) were made by direct compression. The ODTs were evaluated for weight variation, thickness, diameter, hardness, friability, disintegration time, wetting time, MX content, MX release, degree of bitter taste and stability.

Results and discussion: The tablet hardness was ∼3 kg/in(2), and the friability was <1%. Tablets formulated with resinate and the mixture of resinate and MX/HPβCD complexes disintegrated rapidly within 60 s, which is the acceptable limit for ODTs. These results were corresponded to the in vivo disintegration and wetting times. However, only tablets containing the mixture of resinate and MX/HPβCD complexes provided complete MX dissolution and successfully masked the bitter taste. In addition, this tablet was stable at least 6 months.

Conclusions: The combination of ion exchange resin and cyclodextrin could be used in ODTs to mask the bitter taste and enhance the dissolution of drugs that are weakly soluble in water.

Keywords: Cyclodextrin; ion exchange resins; meloxicam; oral disintegrating tablet; taste masking.