Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Liquisolid tablets are an innovative approach to enhance the dissolution rate and, thereby, the bioavailability of therapeutic agents with poor aqueous solubility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The objective of the current research was to compare the bioavailability of the optimized formulation of the olanzapine (OLZ) liquisolid tablet with that of the marketed tablet (MT) by conducting pharmacokinetic and behavioral assessment studies. Ten formulations were designed using Kolliphor EL as a non-volatile solvent, and the respective tablets were prepared by the direct compression method. RESULTS: Pre-compression studies of powders of all the formulations showed good/excellent flow properties and compressibility. The drug release profiles of liquisolid tablets were determined and compared with those of MT. Based on the in vitro results, K250 was considered as an optimized formulation and selected for further in vivo studies. AUC(0-∞) value of K250 formulation was found to be 357.2 ± 35.5 ng.h.mL(-1), which was higher than that of the MT (258.4 ± 29.9 ng.h.mL(-1)). The reduction in locomotor activity was enhanced remarkably in K250 compared with MTs at p < 0.05. The time periods taken to fall in the rotarod test were approximately equal in the experimental groups, which indicated the absence of extrapyramidal side effects. There was a remarkable decrease in the number of boxes covered in the open field test. CONCLUSION: Kolliphor EL was found to be a potential non-volatile solvent that can be used to produce liquisolid tablets of OLZ with improved flow, compressibility, dissolution, and bioavailability.