Characterization and dissolution behavior of nifedipine and phosphatidylcholine binary systems

Physicochemical properties and the dissolution behavior of binary systems of nifedipine (NIF) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) or dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) as physical mixtures, solid dispersions and ground mixtures at 9:1 w/w were investigated. The drug and formulations were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The dissolution and solubility of NIF was increased in the order physical mixture < solid dispersion < ground mixture. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns and FTIR spectra indicated absence of major crystalline or molecular changes of NIF or the PCs. The fraction of NIF dissolved after 1 h was approximately 30 and 34% from NIF/DMPC and NIF/DPPC ground mixtures, respectively, and the dissolution was only slightly reduced from NIF/DPPC, 9.75:0.25 w/w systems. The crystal lattice parameter, c, of DPPC and DMPC in the solid dispersion was longer than that of PC alone but each was considered to be in an amorphous state in the ground mixture because of the absence of an X-ray diffraction peak. Full-width at half-maximum (half width) of the X-ray diffraction peak of NIF in the ground mixture was greater than NIF in the physical mixture or solid dispersion, suggesting that the lattice distortion of NIF crystals was increased by grinding. Thermal analysis confirmed the crystalline state of DPPC and DMPC in the physical mixture and the solid dispersion but an amorphous state in the ground mixture. Thus, an increase in lattice distortion of NIF crystals due to grinding and an amorphous state of DPPC or DMPC in the ground mixtures are considered mainly responsible for the larger increase in dissolution rate and extent of dissolution of NIF after 1 h compared to the solid dispersion formulation.