Dissolution of acetylsalicylic acid from acetylsalicylic acid-polyethylene glycol 6000 coprecipitates.

Investigation of possible enhancement of dissolution of acetylsalicylic acid via coprecipitation with polyethylene glycol 6000 was carried out. The results indicated that the initial amount of acetylsalicylic acid released from its coprecipitates or physical mixtures with polyethylene glycol 6000 was increased over that amount released from plain acetylsalicylic acid powder during the same period of time. This was attributed to lowering of the surface tension of the dissolution medium imparted by polyethylene glycol 6000. The effect of particle size of the coprecipitate on the dissolution rate of acetylsalicylic acid was also studied. Greater viscosity values produced by higher concentrations of polyethylene glycol 6000 in the coprecipitates appeared also to influence the dissolution rate of acetylsalicylic acid. The use of optimum concentration of polyethylene glycol 6000 in physical mixtures or coprecipitates would seem advantageous in the preparation of solid dosage forms containing acetylsalicylic acid.