Development and Enhancement of Liquisolid Compact Containing Rifampicin and Quercetin: An In-Vitro and In-Vivo Investigation

The main objective of this study was to develop liquisolid compacts containing rifampicin and quercetin with enhanced gastrointestinal absorption and dissolution characteristics. To achieve the desired formulations, non-volatile liquid carriers such as propylene glycol, PEG 200, and Tween 20 were selected due to their superior drug solubility properties. The liquisolid formulations were subsequently blended with carrier and coating materials to produce a free-flowing and compressible powder. Avicel pH-102, Aeroperl 200, and Aerosil 200 exhibited excellent liquid retention capacities, indicating their effectiveness as solid carriers and coating agents in liquisolid compact formulations. FT-IR spectra confirmed the absence of significant interactions between the drug and carrier. DSC and PXRD analyses showed that the crystalline structure of the drug was no longer present in the liquisolid powders. Furthermore, the enhanced dissolution behavior observed in liquisolid systems suggested that the drug transitioned into an amorphous or molecular state. Pharmacokinetic studies conducted in rats showed that the inclusion of non-volatile liquid carriers in liquisolid systems improves drug absorption, leading to an increase in both the gastrointestinal uptake and dissolution rate of rifampicin and quercetin.