Dissolution Enhancement of Lansoprazole Using Cocrystallization

Abstract

Objective: Lansoprazole (LPZ) is a Biopharmaceutics Classification System Class II drug. It has low solubility and high permeability, so its rate ofdissolution is a rate-limiting step for drug absorption. This study aimed to improve the dissolution rate of LPZ by forming cocrystals, using nicotinamide(NCT) as the conformer.Methods: Cocrystals of LPZ were produced using the solvent evaporation and solvent-drop grinding methods with a molar ratio of 1:1 and 1:2.The cocrystals were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and differential scanningcalorimetry (DSC). The solubility and dissolution of the LPZ cocrystals were examined in distilled water.Results: FTIR was used to confirm the formation of hydrogen bonds between LPZ and NCT. DSC and XRD studies showed the formation of crystalsfrom cocrystals and a decrease of the melting point of the cocrystals. The dissolution study revealed that the cocrystals could increase the LPZdissolution rate by up to 8.4-fold compared with pure LPZ.Conclusion: LPZ cocrystal formation with NCT was successful in increasing the dissolution rate of LPZ.