Formulation and Evaluation of Trifluoperazine HCl as rectal suppositories by using different types of surfactants in Cocoa butter

Simple and common materials such as cocoa butter and different types of surfactants such as span 60, tween80and PEG 400 were used to formulate rectal suppositories to deliver hydrophilic drug the trifluoperazine HCl. At 10% w/w PEG 400, the best prolonged release of trifluoperazine was obtained and this was returned to the emulsion formation between the PEG 400 and cocoa butter. This was proved by FTIR study which showed interactions of hydrogen bonds between carbonyl group of the triglyceride of cocoa butter and the hydroxyl group of PEG 400. Also, FTIR study showed trifluoperazine molecules were bonded to PEG 400 molecules as these bonds led trifluoperazine to be captured within the PEG 400 that representing the aqueous internal phase of presumed emulsion in the suppository. DSC test support this concept by showing a complete disappearance of trifluoprazine peaks in the thermograms of the suppositories that loaded with the trifluoperazine.

The slow release could be attributed to the possible formation of water in oil emulsion in suppository leading to hold the trifluoperazine in the aqueous phase of the emulsion and this was proved by FTIR and DSC.