The surface morphology find more of the agglomerates was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (Lexica stereo Scan S-3700; Cambridge, UK). The drug content of the crystals was determined by dissolving 80 mg of crystals in 100 ml of methanol followed by measuring the absorbance of appropriately diluted solution

spectrophotometrically (Pharmaspec UV-1700, UV–Visible Spectrophotometer, Shimadzu, Tokyo, Japan) at 340 nm. The in vitro dissolution studies were carried out using 8 station USP XXIII dissolution testing apparatus (Electrolab, Mumbai, India). The dissolution medium used was 900 ml, mixture of phosphate buffer solution pH 6.8 and water (1:1) used as dissolution medium.15 The agglomerates GW786034 in vivo containing 80 mg of zaltoprofen were weighed and then introduced into the dissolution medium. The

medium was stirred at 50 rpm using paddle at 37 ± 0.5 °C. The samples were collected, filtered through Whatman filter paper (0.45 μm) and analyzed spectrophotometrically at 340 nm. Spherical agglomerates of zaltoprofen were prepared by simple spherical agglomeration, which involves a good solvent, a poor solvent and bridging liquid. From the solubility data of zaltoprofen, the solvents are selected. Since zaltoprofen is highly soluble in acetone, insoluble in water, acetone selected as good solvent, water as poor solvent and dichloromethane as bridging liquid as the dichloromethane has good wettability with the drug and immiscible with the water. The percentage of drug content of the prepared agglomerates showed between 91% and 96% shown in Table 2. The Carr’s index significantly reduced by the spherical agglomerates indicates significant decrease in Carr’s index and increase in flow rate of the agglomerates. Hausner’s ratio of agglomerates was less than 1.2, which indicates improved flowability of agglomerates. Angle of repose of spherical agglomerates falls between 23 and 30, among

the four formulations also F2 had reduced angle of repose indicates better flow properties, this may be the significant reduction in interparticle friction because of the good spherical shape and larger size of the spherical agglomerates. The percentage of the porosity of agglomerated crystals was improved as compared to the raw crystals of zaltoprofen; increased porosity improves the wettability and dissolution rate. The result of LBD and TBD indicates that spherical agglomerates exhibited higher packing ability compared to pure drug (Table 3). The results of surface morphology studies were shown in SEM Fig. 1. The parent zaltoprofen crystals were in the form of fine needles, which is in confirmation with the earlier report. This long-needle form of zaltoprofen leads to very poor flow and compressional difficulties.