Preliminary Study on Different Types of Solid Dispersion Excipients for Improving the Water Solubility and Physical Stability of Celecoxib

The solubilization of poorly water-soluble drugs remains a critical challenge in pharmaceutical research. The formulation of solid dispersions employing mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) constitutes a key strategy for enhancing the hydrophilicity and oral bioavailability of Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) Class II drugs. Although several commercial mesoporous silica excipients have been approved for pharmaceutical use, there remains room for improvement regarding drug loading capacity, stability, and controllability of drug release. Methods: for this purpose, dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSN) with a radial dendritic structure and pH-responsive degradation properties were designed and synthesized using celecoxib (CEL) as the model drug, featuring a pore size of 21.51 nm. CEL was loaded onto DMSN and seven commercial solid dispersion excipients using the solvent evaporation method. Results: owing to its high surface area, pore volume, and radial structure, DMSN achieved 39.72% drug loading in an amorphous state, markedly improving wettability, dissolution, and physical stability. Accelerated stability tests showed that DMSN inhibited recrystallization, outperforming traditional solid dispersions. Pharmacokinetic studies in rats demonstrated that the oral bioavailability of CEL-DMSN was 1.29-fold higher than that of commercial celecoxib capsules. Conclusions: in conclusion, these results confirmed the potential of DMSN in enhancing the stability, promoting oral absorption, and reducing gastrointestinal irritation of poorly soluble drugs.