Drug Res (Stuttg) 2014; 64(12): 663-667
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1368701
Original Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Study of Effect of Variables on Particle Size of Telmisartan Nanosuspensions Using Box-Behnken Design

M. R. P. Rao
1   Department of Pharmaceutics, AISSMS College of Pharmacy, Kennedy Road, Pune, India
,
A. Bajaj
2   Department of Pharmaceutics, SVKM’S B. N. College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, India
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 26 September 2013

accepted 27 January 2014

Publication Date:
18 February 2014 (online)

Abstract

Telmisartan, an orally active nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist is a BCS Class II drug having aqueous solubility of 9.9 µg/ml and hence oral bioavailability of 40%. The present study involved preparation of nanosuspensions by evaporative antisolvent precipitation technique to improve the saturation solubility and dissolution rate of telmisartan. Various stabilizers such as TPGS, PVPK 30, PEG 6000 were investigated of which TPGS was found to provide maximum decrease in particle size and accord greater stability to the nanosuspensions. Box-Behnken design was used to investigate the effect of independent variables like stabilizer concentration, time and speed of stirring on particle size of nanosuspensions. Pharmacodynamic studies using Goldblatt technique were undertaken to evaluate the effect of nano-sizing on the hypotensive effect of the drug. Concentration of TPGS and speed of rotation were found to play an important role in particle size of the nanosuspensions whereas time of stirring displayed an exponential relationship with particle size. Freeze dried nanocrystals obtained from nanosuspension of least particle size were found to have increased saturation solubility of telmisartan in different dissolution media. The reconstituted nanosuspension was found to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure without affecting pulse pressure and heart rate. Statistical tools can be used to identify key process and formulation parameters which play a significant role in controlling the particle size in nanosuspensions.

 
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