Abstract
The aim of the present study was to improve the solubility and bioavailability of a poorly water-soluble drug in human body, using a solid dispersion technique (hot melt extrusion). The solid dispersion was prepared by cooling the hot melt of the drug in the carrier (Vitamin E TPGS and PVP). The dissolution rate of formulation 1 from a novel formulation prepared by solid dispersion technique was equal to release of formulation 6 (40% of eprosartan mesylate is in contrast to teveten$^{(R)}$) within 60 min (Table 1). The oral bioavailability of new eprosartan mesylate tablet having vitamin E TPGS and PVP K29 was tested on rats and dogs. Of the absorption enhancer and polymer tested, vitamin E TPGS and PVP K29, resulted in the greatest increases of AUC in animals (about 2.5-fold increase in rat and dog). When eprosartan mesylate was mixed with the absorption enhancer and polymer in a ratio of 2.94:2:1, vitamin E TPGS and PVP K29 improved eprosartan mesylate bioavailability significantly compared with the conventional immediate release (IR) tablet Teveten$^{(R)}$ (formulation 7). These results show that solid dispersion using vitamin E TPGS and PVP K29 is a promising approach for developing eprosartan mesylate drug products.