Abstract

MODIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LOVASTATIN CRYSTALS

R. R. Thenge*, S. V. Lonkar, Dr. N. M. Mahajan, Dr. L. N. Barde, V. S. Adhao, P. V. Ajmire1, R. R. Popat

ABSTRACT

Lovastatinan anti-cholesteremic drug used in the treatment of hypertension. Being a BCS class II drug, it has poor solubility and dissolution rate. Thus the aim of present study was to modify the crystals of lovastatin in the presence of additives to improve solubility, dissolution rate and other physicochemical properties. The lovastatin crystals were prepared using solvent evaporation method in the presence of additives such as PVP-K30, PEG-4000 and Poloxamer 407.The modified crystals of lovastatin were characterized by Scanning electron microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffractometry.Also the modified crystals were evaluated for solubility, dissolution rate and other physicochemical properties and compared with commercial lovastatin. The modified crystals exhibit the difference in the size and shape when compare to commercial lovastatin indicate the habit modification. The FT-IR spectra of modified crystals in the presence of additives showed no difference in the characteristic peaks compared to commercial lovastatin. DSC data indicate the decrease in the melting endotherm of modified crystals indicate the polymorphic changes. The XRD spectra of modified crystals in the presence of additives showed decrease in number of peaks indicate the polymorphic changes. The Modified crystals showed improved solubility and dissolution rate.

Keywords: Crystals, Lovastatin, Solubility, FT-IR, DSC, Dissolution rate.