Hydrophilic-hydrophobic polymer blend for modulation of crystalline changes and molecular interactions in solid dispersion

This research study aimed to develop a new strategy for using a polymer blend in solid dispersion (SD) for dissolution enhancement of poorly water-soluble drugs. SDs with different blends of hydrophilic-hydrophobic polymers (zein/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose - zein/HPMC) were prepared using spray drying to modulate the drug crystal and polymer-drug interactions in SDs. Physicochemical characterizations, including power X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, were performed to elucidate the roles of the blends in SDs. Although hydrophobic polymers played a key role in changing the model drug from a crystal to an amorphous state, the dissolution rate was limited due to the wetting property. Fortunately, the hydrophilic-hydrophobic blend not only reduced the drug crystallinity but also resulted in a hydrogen bonding interaction between the drugs and the polymer for a dissolution rate improvement. This work may contribute to a new generation of solid dispersion using a blend of hydrophilic-hydrophobic polymers for an effective dissolution enhancement of poorly water-soluble drugs.