Abstract

SELF-EMULSIFYING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS: A NOVEL APPROACH TO DELIVER DRUGS

S. P. Vaishnav* and V. A. Bairagi

Abstract

Lipid formulations for oral administration of drugs generally consist of a drug dissolved in a blend of two or more excipients, which may be triglyceride oils, Partial glycerides, Surfactants or co‐surfactants. Improving oral bioavailability of low poorly water soluble drugs using self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) possess significant potential. Oral bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs can be improved using SEDDS, and appears most promising. SEDDSs possess unparalleled potential in improving oral bioavailability of poorly water soluble drugs. The primary mechanism of action, which leads to improved bioavailability, is usually avoidance, or partial avoidance, of the slow dissolution process, which limits the bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs from solid dosage forms. Ideally the formulation allows the drug to remain in a dissolved state throughout its transit through the gastrointestinal tract. We found that SEDDSs could efficiently improve oral absorption of the sparingly soluble drugs by rapid self-emulsification and, subsequently, dispersion in the absorption sites. The availability of the drug for absorption can be enhanced by presentation of the drug as a solubilizer within a colloidal dispersion. This objective can be achieved by formulation of the drug in a self‐emulsifying system or alternatively by taking advantage of the natural process of triglyceride digestion. In practice ‗Lipid‘ formulations range from pure oils, at one extreme, to blends which contain a substantial proportion of hydrophilic surfactants or cosolvents.

Keywords: Solid carrier, Surfactant, lipid emulsifying delivery, characterization, bioavailability enhancement.