Solid dispersion (SD) is one of the most widely used methods to resolve issues accompanied by poorly soluble drugs. The present study was carried out to enhance the solubility and dissolution rate of Aceclofenac (ACE), a BCS class II drug with pH-dependent solubility, by the SD method. Effervescent assisted fusion technique (EFSD) using different hydrophilic carriers (mannitol, urea, Soluplus®, poloxamer 188, and poloxamer 407) in the presence of an effervescent base (sodium bicarbonate and citric acid) in different drug: carrier: effervescent base ratio and the conventional fusion technique (FSD) were used to prepare ACE SD. Solubility, dissolution rate, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), PowderX-ray diffraction study (PXRD), and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were determined for the SD obtained from both techniques as a comparative study. The results showed that EFSD using ACE: Soluplus®: effervescent base in a ratio of 1:2:1 had higher solubility and dissolution rate than that obtained from FSD prepared by ACE: Soluplus® in a ratio of 1:2. However, the two techniques obtained the amorphous form according to XRD and DSC results. It can be concluded that EFSD is a promising method for the solubility and dissolution rate improvement of BCS class II drugs.
