Enhanced Solubility of Meloxicam with Sodium Benzoate Hydrotrope: Ecofriendly Approach for Improved Topical Drug Delivery

Background: Hydrotropic solid dispersion has been reported as a potential process to improve the poor solubility of drugs using conventional hydrotropes. The presented investigation has described a water-soluble hydrotropic solid dispersion system for Meloxicam (MX) using sodium benzoate hydrotrope to enhance the poor solubility of Meloxicam and to improve topical delivery. Thus, solid dispersion was prepared, characterized, and converted into HSD-Meloxicam gel. The prepared gel was further characterized for in vitro performance. Material and Methods: Solid dispersion was prepared by a solvent evaporation method using sodium benzoate in 1:4 ratios. The prepared systems were characterized for in-vitro release and drug content. Accordingly, rate-controlling polymer and drug penetration enhancers were selected and formulated into hydrogel bases. The prepared gel was evaluated for performance parameters like drug content, pH, viscosity, spreadability, drug release kinetics, diffusion study, accelerated stability studies, and viscosity parameters. Results: HSD-Meloxicam gel containing carbopol-934 (20%w/w) has appeared a 99% release of the drug over 60 min of time duration. The prepared gel has clarity and is homogeneous in appearance. Similarly, invitro dissolution studies showed the prepared HSD Meloxicam gel’s better release and rheological properties. The drug content of gel was found as 96% with improved topical delivery.