Experimental and chemoinformatics evaluation of some physicochemical properties of excipients influencing release kinetics of the acidic drug ibuprofen

In the present study, ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug was used in the formulation of tablets using three polymers representing different categories (immediate, moderate and extended release). Prepared tablets were evaluated for different post-compression parameters including dissolution and transportability studies. In vitro dissolution studies indicated Korsmeyer-Peppas as a best fit model, however, the transport of the drug was found to be influenced by its rate of release. A total of 118 molecular descriptors representing physicochemical and topological properties of polymeric structure was calculated and correlated with formulation characteristics for model generation. Further, predictive quantitative-structure property relationship models were developed for correlating polymeric descriptors with formulation properties containing acidic drug (ibuprofen). Developed models exhibited good predictability for formulation characteristics as indicated by squared correlation coefficients (>0.9). Such models could have an ability to predict the formulation properties as well as composition for desired characteristics with saving of time, material and cost. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.