Dissolution profile of Curcumin from solid dispersion prepared at a high drug load of Curcumin using Poloxamer 407 as the carrier

Introduction: Curcumin, a BCS II drug, suffers from poor bioavailability. Increasing curcumin dissolution is a way to increase its bioavailability. Solid dispersion formulation can be used to improve curcumin dissolution. However, the successful curcumin solid dispersion is limited to a relatively low drug load (< 20%). Aim: This study aimed to investigate the dissolution behaviour of curcumin at a higher drug load (27.9%, 42.3%, and 56.6%) using a surfactant carrier of poloxamer 407. Methods: The solvent evaporation method was employed to prepare high drug load solid dispersion of curcumin. A physical mixture of the corresponding solid dispersion formulation was prepared as a control. Drug load, dissolution behaviour in 180 minutes, and dissolution efficiency (DE180) were determined. Results: The results showed that incorporating curcumin into a poloxamer 407 solid dispersion significantly improves the dissolution rate of curcumin. In the solid dispersion formula, the dissolution behaviour of curcumin was found to be carrier-dependent.