The paper is devoted to the investigation of microwave irradiation (MW) for the preparation of solvent free solid dispersion (SD). Precisely,
sustained release solid dispersions containing different drug-to-polymer ratios were developed by means of microwave technology using ibuprofen
(IBU) as a model drug and glyceryl monostarate (Imwitor 900, GM) as a lipophilic sustained release agent. Their physical characterizations were
determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), hot-stage microscopy (HSM). Through the dissolution
rates studies, the in vitro drug performance of the SD was evaluated. The physical characterizations revealed a substantial correspondence of the
drug solid state before and after MW treatment while drug-carrier interactions in the SD were attested. The dissolution studies of the irradiated
samples showed that the matrices based on Imwitor 900 were able to promote a sustained release of the drug. A mathematical approach suggested
that IBU release from solid dispersion was essentially due to matrix erosion. In conclusion we can affirm that the microwave technique could be
considered as a new and interesting method to prepare drug-carrier systems.
