Raina et al Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics. 2019; 9(2):250-254 ISSN: 2250-1177 [250] CODEN (USA): JDDTAO Available online on 15.03.2019 at http://jddtonline.info Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics Open Access to Pharmaceutical and Medical Research © 2011-18, publisher and licensee JDDT, This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, provided the original work is properly cited Open Access Research Article Design, development and optimization of immediate release tablet of deflazacort Raina Binu 1 *, Shrivastava Birendra 2 , Bhargava Anurag 1 , Sharma Shailesh 3 , Sharma Abhimanyu Rai 1 , Bajwa Prabhjot Singh 1 1 Ch. Devi Lal College of Pharmacy, Jagadhri, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, India 2 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, 3 Department of Pharmaceutics, Amar Shaheed Baba Ajit Singh Jujhar Singh Memorial College of Pharmacy, Bela, Punjab, India ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to prepare immediate release tablets (IRTs) of deflazacort by direct compression method. Two types of superdisintegrants i.e. sodium starch glycolate (SSG) and Ac-Di-sol were used in the formulation of tablets. Twelve preliminary batches were prepared by varying the concentration of superdisintegrants. It was found that formulation containing Ac-Di-Sol disintegrated in less time as compared to formulation containing sodium starch glycolate. Values of friability was found to be more in case of formulation containing Ac-Di- Sol. Attempts were also made to prepare the tablets containing superdisintegrants in combination and these resulted in the formulation with improved values of disintegration time and friability. On the basis of preliminary studies optimization of IRT was done employing 3 2 full factorial design using design expert 7. The optimized batch of IRTs showed friability and disintegration time values of 0.598 and 64.17±3.50 respectively. It was also found that 96.26±1.82% of drug was released within 5 min. Keywords: Immediate release tablets, deflazacort, Rheumatoid arthritis, Sodium starch glycolate, Ac-Di-Sol, 3 2 full factorial design Article Info: Received 31 Jan 2019; Review Completed 04 March 2019; Accepted 09 March 2019; Available online 15 March 2019 Cite this article as: Raina B, Shrivastava B, Bhargava A, Sharma S, Sharma AR, Bajwa PS, Design, development and optimization of immediate release tablet of deflazacort, Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics. 2019; 9(2):250-254 http://dx.doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v9i2.2411 *Address for Correspondence: Binu Raina, Ch. Devi Lal College of Pharmacy, Jagadhri, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, India E-mail: binuraina407@gmail.com INTRODUCTION Oral route is the preferred route of administration for administering therapeutic agents. Rate of absorption of drug is controlled by rate of dissolution. Rate of dissolution can be increased by various methods. In present study IRTs were formulated that disintegrate in less time delivering fine suspension of particles of drug with large surface area, resulting in increased rate of dissolution 1 . Deflazacort was chosen as the model drug. Solubility of deflazacort is low thus making its dissolution controlled by disintegration. Deflazacort is a corticosteroid which is an oxazoline derivative of prednisolone, characterized by a high binding affinity to tissue glucocorticoid receptors and exert anti- inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. Deflazacort significantly inhibits both the proliferation of mononuclear cells derived from human peripheral blood, and the release of inflammatory cytokines by these cells. Thus deflazacort is rapidly effective in symptoms and objective indices of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis 2 . RA is a chronic disorder in which, the body's own immune system starts to attack body tissues, reasons of which are unknown. This disorder is accompanied with swelling, stiffness and pain. In this disorder the attack is not only directed at the joint but to many other parts of the body. In RA, the joint lining and cartilage gets more damaged which eventually results in erosion of two opposing bones. Based on the studies, it has been reported that deflazacort could be used in treatment of RA. It is as efficacious as prednisolone with less adverse effects as compared to other corticosteroids 3 . In the formulation of immediate release tablets basic approach is to use superdisintegrants. In the present study two types of superdisintegrants (sodium starch glycolate and Ac-Di-Sol) were used. Concentration of both superdisintegrants was optimized by employing 3 2 full factorial design. MATERIALS AND METHOD Materials Deflazacort and Avicel pH101 was obtained from Oscar Remedies Pvt. Ltd. Haryana, India. Sodium starch glycolate, talc and magnesium stearate was obtained from Nice Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. Kerala, India. Ac-Di-Sol was obtained from Optica Pharmaceuticals, Haryana, India.