Author(s):
Anilkumar J. Shinde, Umesh G. Bhavsar, Dinanath T. Gaikwad, Firoj A. Tamboli
Email(s):
umeshgbhavsar0909@rediffmail.com
DOI:
10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00445 
Address:
Anilkumar J. Shinde1, Umesh G. Bhavsar2*, Dinanath T. Gaikwad1, Firoj A. Tamboli1
1Dept. of Pharmaceutics, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Pharmacy, Kolhapur – 416013 Maharashtra, India.
2Dept. of Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Pharmacy, Kolhapur - 416013 Maharashtra, India.
*Corresponding Author
Published In:
Volume - 19,
Issue - 7,
Year - 2026
ABSTRACT:
Objective: This study aimed to formulate and evaluate solid dispersions (SDs) of Ketoconazole (KET), a BCS Class II antifungal agent with poor aqueous solubility and variable oral bioavailability, to enhance its solubility and dissolution rate. Methods: Two preparation techniques were employed: melt fusion using PEG 4000 and solvent evaporation using a combination of Poloxamer 188 and PEG 6000. Solid dispersions were prepared in various drug-to-polymer ratios. UV spectrophotometric analysis confirmed KET’s ?max at 224nm in 0.1N HCl, with excellent linearity (R² = 0.999). FTIR spectroscopy was used to check for drug-polymer compatibility. Solid-state properties were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to evaluate crystallinity changes. In vitro dissolution studies in 0.1N HCl compared the drug release profiles of the formulations to a marketed tablet. Results: FTIR analysis showed no significant interactions between KET and the carriers. XRD and DSC confirmed reduced crystallinity and partial conversion of KET to its amorphous form, especially in the 1:4 (PEG 4000) and 1: 1: 2 (Poloxamer 188: PEG 6000) formulations. Dissolution testing showed significant improvement: 91.88% drug release from the 1:4 formulation and 84.54% from the 1: 1: 2 formulation, compared to 83.17% from the marketed tablet at 60 minutes (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Both preparation methods enhanced the solubility and dissolution rate of KET. The 1:4 PEG 4000 and 1: 1: 2 Poloxamer 188: PEG 6000 solid dispersions demonstrated superior performance and present promising candidates for development into improved oral formulations.
Cite this article:
Anilkumar J. Shinde, Umesh G. Bhavsar, Dinanath T. Gaikwad, Firoj A. Tamboli. Enhanced Dissolution of Ketoconazole via Solid Dispersion: A Comparative Study of Melt Fusion and Solvent Evaporation. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2026;19(7):3135-2. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00445
Cite(Electronic):
Anilkumar J. Shinde, Umesh G. Bhavsar, Dinanath T. Gaikwad, Firoj A. Tamboli. Enhanced Dissolution of Ketoconazole via Solid Dispersion: A Comparative Study of Melt Fusion and Solvent Evaporation. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2026;19(7):3135-2. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00445 Available on: https://www.rjptonline.org/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2026-19-7-32
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