biostudies-literatureUnknown16(7)Pervez Lali SThis study explores the enhancement of oral bioavailability, dissolution rate, and solubility of weakly water-soluble fluoroquinolone antibiotic, ofloxacin (OFL), by solid dispersion (SD) formulation prepared using the spray drying technique. Hydrophilic polymers; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and xanthan gum (XNG) were used as carriers. FT-IR spectroscopy indicated hydrogen bonding between OFL and the polymer's backbone. DSC and PXRD analyses revealed a transformation from the crystalline to the amorphous state. SEM images revealed reduced particle size and changed surface morphology, which are favorable for solubility improvement. The <i>in vitro</i> drug release studies, performed in simulated gastric conditions (pH 6.8) showed a significant improvement in the drug release, 97.88% and 82.34% for HPMC-based (O-H) and XNG-based (O-X) SDs, respectively, as compared to only 59.2% for unprocessed OFL. Further, <i>in vivo</i>, kinetics reported in a validated HPLC-UV method in rabbits showed an impressive <i>C</i> _max (O-H: 4.33 µg mL^-1; O-X: 4.12 µg mL^-1; OFL: 1.8 µg mL^-1) and  prolonged <i>t</i> ₁/₂ (8 h <i>vs.</i> 5 h). Thus demonstrating a significant enhancement in bioavailability in the rabbit model. The SDs produced with HPMC and XNG represent a promising strategy to improve the solubility and <i>in vivo</i> performance of OFL, which may translate to improved therapeutic efficacy.RSC advances6048-6060https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12848879biostudies-literatureEngineering ofloxacin bioavailability through spray-dried HPMC and xanthan gum-based solid dispersions: enhanced solubility and therapeutic efficacy.PMC12848879Shaaban IASher MAbbas AHussain MANaeem-Ul-Hassan MHaseeb MTKhaled Sendy BPervez Lali SFatima AAlhoshani FMfalseEngineering ofloxacin bioavailability through spray-dried HPMC and xanthan gum-based solid dispersions: enhanced solubility and therapeutic efficacy.This study explores the enhancement of oral bioavailability, dissolution rate, and solubility of weakly water-soluble fluoroquinolone antibiotic, ofloxacin (OFL), by solid dispersion (SD) formulation prepared using the spray drying technique. Hydrophilic polymers; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and xanthan gum (XNG) were used as carriers. FT-IR spectroscopy indicated hydrogen bonding between OFL and the polymer's backbone. DSC and PXRD analyses revealed a transformation from the crystalline to the amorphous state. SEM images revealed reduced particle size and changed surface morphology, which are favorable for solubility improvement. The <i>in vitro</i> drug release studies, performed in simulated gastric conditions (pH 6.8) showed a significant improvement in the drug release, 97.88% and 82.34% for HPMC-based (O-H) and XNG-based (O-X) SDs, respectively, as compared to only 59.2% for unprocessed OFL. Further, <i>in vivo</i>, kinetics reported in a validated HPLC-UV method in rabbits showed an impressive <i>C</i> _max (O-H: 4.33 µg mL^-1; O-X: 4.12 µg mL^-1; OFL: 1.8 µg mL^-1) and  prolonged <i>t</i> ₁/₂ (8 h <i>vs.</i> 5 h). Thus demonstrating a significant enhancement in bioavailability in the rabbit model. The SDs produced with HPMC and XNG represent a promising strategy to improve the solubility and <i>in vivo</i> performance of OFL, which may translate to improved therapeutic efficacy.2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-06-11T06:01:21.99Z2026-06-11T03:12:01.728ZS-EPMC128488794161322910.1039/d5ra06222e