Formulation and In- Vitro Evaluation of Spherical Crystal Agglomerates of Ebastine by Quasi Emulsion Solvent Diffusion Method

Abstract

Ebastine (EBS) is a poorly water-soluble antihistaminic drug; it belongs to the class II group according to the biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS). The aim of the present work was to enhance the solubility, dissolution rate and micromeritic properties of the drug, by formulating it as spherical crystal agglomerates by Quasi Emulsion Solvent Diffusion (QESD) method.

Spherical crystal agglomerates (SCAs) were prepared in presence of three solvents dichloromethane (DCM), water and chloroform as a good solvent, poor solvent and bridging solvent respectively.  Agglomeration of EBS involved the use of some hydrophilic polymers like polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG 4000), polyvinyl pyrrolidine K30 (PVP K30), D-?-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) and ?. cyclodextrin. The pure drug (EBS) and its agglomerates with and without polymers were characterized for their drug content, percentage yield, solubility, in vitro drug release study and micromeritic property as well as by optical microscope, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), FTIR spectroscopic studies, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The results of this work showed that there was a   marketed enhancement in the solubility with improvement in dissolution rate, physiochemical properties, decrease in crystallinity and alteration in the crystal habit of the drug especially in presence of polymers. The best results were obtained with formula prepared by the combination of PEG 4000 and B. cyclodextrin in the agglomeration process of (EBS).