Development and Optimization of Piroxicam-loaded Solid Self-microemulsifying Drug Delivery System

The aim of present study was to formulate and evaluate self-microemulsifying drug delivery system containing piroxicam and to use the ability of porous magnesium alumina metasilicate as a solid carrier for self-microemulsifying drug delivery system. It was developed to resolve the problems of piroxicam such as low water solubility, low bioavailability and gastrointestinal irritation. Self-microemulsifying drug delivery system containing varying proportions of Capmul MCM, Cremophor EL and Transcutol-P were prepared and optimized using response surface methodology of Design-Expert (R) software version 10. Liquid self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems were subjected to in vitro evaluation, including self-emulsification efficiency study, droplet size, zeta potential measurement and in vitro drug release studies. Solid self-microemulsifying drug delivery system was prepared by adding liquid self-microemulsifying drug delivery system with Neusilin US2 and filled in hard gelatin capsule. The optimized formulation consists of 28.26 % of Capmul MCM, 44.16 % of Cremophor EL and 27.58 % of Transcutol-P. The results showed that the drug release profile of piroxicam from the self-microemulsifying drug delivery formulations was higher than the pure piroxicam powder. The release of piroxicam was rapid and complete. Solid self- microemulsifying drug delivery systems after filled in hard gelatin capsule, predicted to be a promising technique to deliver a liquid formulation in solid dosage form.