Enhancement dissolution rate of acyclovir an antiviral drug by ball-milled solid dispersions technique

The aim of this research is to improve the dissolution rate of the antiviral drug the acyclovir (ACV) by ball milled solid dispersions technique. The prepared solid dispersions have been evaluated by their dissolution rate, their thermal behavior, and by scanning with infrared spectroscopy. The solid dispersions of acyclovir were prepared with sodium starch glycolate (SSG) and polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG6000) with (1:1 w/w) ratio by ball milled technique. Tablets containing the solid dispersions were formulated and their dissolution characteristics were compared with the (ZOVIRAX ®) tablets and the local ones (Generic), eventually the dispersion with the best dissolution rate was chosen. The optimized solid dispersion was compared with the pure (ACV) when analyzed using the Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Our results revealed a significant increase in dissolution rate of ACV from the prepared solid dispersion tablets with the SSG when compared with the local ones(Generic), on the other hand there was a similar dissolution rate to the  (ZOVIRAX (® tablets, there was no statistical differences according to the two tailed student T-test (P <0.05), the (DSC) showed a decrease in the ΔH in the solid dispersion compared with the pure (ACV), that may be according to the partial existence of the acyclovir in an amorphous shape, the (FTIR) results showed a sifting in C-O stretching peak which indicates to the formulated solid dispersion.