Cocrystal Formulation: A Novel Approach to Enhance Solubility and Dissolution of Etodolac

Abstract

Etodolac (ETD) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) given in rheumatoid arthritis treatment. As it comes under BCS class II drug hence it exhibits low water solubility. Also, its dissolution rate-limited oral absorption results in delayed onset of action. The Novel approach in the solubility enhancement field; crystal engineering was preferred to prepare pharmaceutical cocrystals of etodolac with GRAS (generally recognized as safe) molecules. Pharmaceutical cocrystals of etodolac were prepared with p-hydroxybenzoic acid and glutaric acid with the drug: coformer ratio 1:1 and 1:2. Cooling cocrystallization was used to prepare etodolac cocrystals. Cocrystal formulations were characterized by saturation solubility study, in-vitro dissolution studies, and stability study. Cocrystal was also characterized by analytical parameters like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Optimized Cocrystal formulation dissolved more rapidly and their equilibrium solubility is greater than the plain drug.