ABSTRACT:
Naproxen, a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), suffers from poor water solubility and limited oral bioavailability due to its slow dissolution rate. To address this challenge, the present study explores the enhancement of naproxen’s solubility and dissolution rate through the formulation of solid dispersions using ß-Cyclodextrin and Pluronic P105 as carriers. Solid dispersions were prepared using the solvent evaporation method to create both binary and ternary systems, which were subsequently evaluated for their solubility, dissolution behavior, and physicochemical characteristics. Among the formulations, the optimized ternary dispersion (SD6) exhibited a substantial increase in solubility, reaching 10.58 mg/mL, compared to pure naproxen. Furthermore, the in vitro dissolution studies demonstrated a significant improvement in drug release, with 94.89% of naproxen released within 120 minutes. This enhanced performance can be attributed to the synergistic effects of ß-cyclodextrin, which forms inclusion complexes with naproxen, and Pluronic P105, a non-ionic surfactant that improves wettability and dispersibility. The combination of these two carriers effectively transformed naproxen into an amorphous, more soluble state, thereby facilitating faster dissolution and potentially better oral absorption. These findings suggest that ternary solid dispersions incorporating both ß-cyclodextrin and Pluronic P105 represent a promising strategy for enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs, such as naproxen. This approach may offer a practical and scalable solution for improving the therapeutic efficacy of similar BCS Class II drugs in pharmaceutical formulations.