Calister E Ugwu , Kingsley C Eze

Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria;

For correspondence:-  Calister Ugwu   Email: calister.ugwu@unn.edu.ng

Received: 4 March 2025        Accepted: 14 June 2025        Published: 03 July 2025

Citation: Ugwu CE, Eze KC. Encapsulation of aceclofenac hydrogel-based solid dispersion for sustained delivery. Trop J Pharm Res 2025; 24(6):753-760 doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v24i6.1

© 2025 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To develop aceclofenac hydrogel-based solid dispersions (AC-HSDs) encapsulated in two
modified gelatin capsules (MGCs as MGX1 and MGX2) for sustained drug delivery.
Methods: The AC-HSDs were prepared with Eudragit L 100 (EL1 – EL5) and hydroxypropyl
methylcellulose acetate succinate (HP1 – HP5) at various drug: carrier ratios (1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 1:3, using
solvent evaporation technique and characterized by percentage encapsulation efficiency (EE%),
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In vitro drug release of 10
mg (AC-HSDs) was investigated using USP Type I and in vivo anti-inflammatory study of (AC-HSDs;
test), pure aceclofenac, and aceclofenac tablet (positive control; administered orally at 10 mg/kg body)
was evaluated using the rat paw edema method.
Result: Eudragit–based solid dispersions showed significantly higher entrapment efficiency compared
to hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate–based formulation (p < 0.05). The DSC and SEM of
both batches revealed discrete particle sizes and shapes with decreased crystallinity. The AC-HSDs
encapsulated in MGX1 showed significantly prolonged drug release compared to MGX2 (p < 0.05).
Furthermore, HP-SDs showed significantly higher edema inhibition (86 %) compared to pure
aceclofenac and commercial aceclofenac tablets (p < 0.05)
Conclusion: Aceclofenac hydrogel-based solid dispersions (AC-HSDs) encapsulated in MGCs show
sustained release effects as an alternative technology to deliver aceclofenac.

Keywords: Aceclofenac, Sustained drug release, Modified gelatin capsules (MGCs), Solid dispersions, Anti-inflammatory

Impact Factor
Thompson Reuters (ISI): 0.6 (2023)
H-5 index (Google Scholar): 49 (2023)