Alternative Strategies in Solid Dispersion Manufacturing

Solid dispersion technique is being used to enhance the dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble drugs and/or BCS class II drugs (Low solubility and High permeability). Conventionally, it can be prepared by two methods; melting and solvent evaporation. But these approaches are found to be having certain limitations regarding reproducibility, scale-up and stability of the drug. Various novel strategies have been tried for solid dispersion manufacturing such as lyophilization (freeze drying), melt agglomeration process, spray drying technology, use of surfactant, electrostatic spinning method, spray coating on sugar beads with a fluidized bed coating system, hot melt extrusion, direct capsule filling and super critical fluid technology. These technologies have been found to eliminate several drawbacks posed by the conventional methods of manufacturing of solid dispersions such as laborious preparation methods, reproducibility, scaling up of manufacturing processes, stability of drug, and vehicle. The paper highlights the potential applications and limitations of these novel approaches in solid dispersion manufacturing.