Fenofibrate is a lipid lowering drug used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, which is not soluble in water and lower absorption in gastric fluid. In order to improve the solubility and oral absorption of the drug in gastric fluid and to enhance its dissolution rate solid dispersions evaluated. Solid dispersions of Fenofibrate were prepared using PEG 4000, PEG6000 and a mixture of PEG 4000 and PEG 6000. The effect of solvent methods of preparation of solid dispersion on dissolution behavior was also investigated. Dissolution studies indicated a significant increase in dissolution of Fenofibrate when dispersed in PEG4000 and PEG6000. Physical mixtures containing PEG4000 and PEG6000 also showed improved dissolution of Fenofibrate as compared with that of pure drug, indicating the solubilizing effect of PEG4000 and PEG6000. Solid dispersions containing Fenofibrate /PEG4000, 1: 5, shown a 8- fold increase in dissolution after 60 min (D60) and another dispersion containing Fenofibrate /PEG 6000, 1:5, showed an 14-fold increase in the 0.1 N HCl systems. The dispersion containing fifth parts of the PEG 4000: PEG6000 mixture (PEG 4000/PEG 6000, 1:5mixture) shown a 12-fold increase in D60 as compared with pure drug. When multi-carrier solid dispersion containing fifth parts of mixture was prepared by the solvent method, the D60 value was about 2-fold that of the same dispersion prepared by the solvent method. The dissolution of solvent method prepare by solid dispersions further increased the dissolution of Fenofibrate significantly.
