Formulation and Evaluation of Ibuprofen Fast Dissolving Tablets Employing Starch Malonate (Modified Starch) as a Superdisintegrant

Aim: The goal of the study was to prepare a superdisintegrant named starch malonate followed by its evaluation for physicochemical properties. Prepared starch malonate was optimized in the preparation of fast dissolving tablets of ibuprofen by using 23 factorial designs.

Methods: Compatibility studies like FTIR, TLC and DSC were performed to check any interaction between starch malonate and ibuprofen. Fast dissolving tablets were compressed by direct compression method and subjected to various official tests like hardness, friability, drug content, dissolution etc. Wetting time and water absorption ratio were also performed. At last response surface plot and contour plot was plotted to check the effects of starch malonate, croscarmellose sodium and crospovidone (independent variables) on disintegration time and dissolution efficiency in 5 minutes (dependent variables). Stability studies were also performed to check the stability of prepared fast dissolving tablets of ibuprofen.

Results: Results of the studies showed that all the results are within acceptable limits and complying with the criteria of fast dissolving tablets. Drug content was found to be (100±5%), hardness of all tablets were found in between 3.8 -4 kg/cm2, friability was found less than 0.15%. Optimized formulation has showed less wetting time, less disintegration time followed by enhanced drug release. Among all formulation, formulation F2 has shown least disintegration time and enhanced drug release (99.89%) as compared to other formulations. We can conclude that starch malonate can be used as a novel superdisintegrant.