Formulation optimization of long-acting depot injection of aripiprazole by using D-optimal mixture design.

Non-adherence to medication specifications is a major cause for poor outcomes in the therapy of schizophrenia. In situ implantable preparation of aripiprazole, an atypical antipsychotic drug, was intended with the aim to improve the patient compliance and to offer an effective antipsychotic drug therapy. D-optimal mixture design was employed to design and optimize long-acting depot injection of aripiprazole using polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) 50:50, 75:25, 85:15, and cholesterol as release rate-retarding material.

D-optimal designing and optimization of long acting microsphere-based injectable formulation of aripiprazole.

This work was aimed to design and optimize a long acting microsphere-based injectable formulation of aripiprazole by using D-optimal experimental design methodology. Microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation method using PLGA and cholesterol as release rate retardant materials. The microspheres were characterized for their encapsulation efficiency, particle size, surface morphology, residual solvent content, and drug release behavior.