Development of Solid Self-Emulsifying Formulation for Improving the Oral Bioavailability of Erlotinib

Preparation and Characterization of Fenofibrate-Loaded Fibers Based on 2-Hydroxylpropyl-β-Cyclodextrin

Fenofibrate is used to treat dyslipidemia, a health condition that could lead to cardiovascular diseases. Fenofibrate is classified as a class II drug by the Biopharmaceutical Classification System due to its high lipophilicity and low solubility in water. The purpose of this work was to enhance the dissolution characteristics of fenofibrate by incorporating it into 2-hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrin fibers for the first time. Single-needle electrospinning was used to prepare the fenofibrate-loaded cyclodextrin fibers. The drug loading was optimized to fulfill the electrospinning conditions and was determined to be a 1:4 drug:cyclodextrin molar ratio. We found dimethylformamide a suitable solvent and were able to prepare bead-free fenofibrate-loaded 2-hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrin fibers with an average diameter of 2.65 ± 0.82 μm. Drug loading was determined to be close to the theoretical value, 97.2%, with the aid of ultraviolet spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to track the crystalline to amorphous transition of fenofibrate through fiber formation. The dissolution results indicated a 60-fold increase in fenofibrate from the prepared fibers with respect to the micronized active ingredient.

Investigation of bioavailability and anti-pancreatic cancer efficacy of a self-nanoemulsifying erlotinib delivery system

AIMS

A new self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) was developed for erlotinib (Ert) oral delivery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A pseudo-ternary phase diagram for olive oil, Tween 80 and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 600 mixtures, was firstly constructed. Based on the data about Ert solubility and cytotoxicity of these components, a SNEDDS composed of 10% olive oil, 20% Tween 80 and 70% (V/V) polyethylene glycol 600 was selected for Ert loading (Ert-SNEDDS).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

SNEDDS formed 31.2-nm droplets upon dilution in water, and Ert loading led to increment in the oil droplets to 83.9 ± 0.6 nm. Ert-SNEDDS represented a loading capacity and an entrapment efficiency of 22.7 ± 0.7 and 40.7 ± 0.5%, respectively. Ert release from Ert-SNEDDS was monitored in both a mixture of phosphate buffer saline and 0.5% Tween 80, and artificial gastric fluid. Ert-SNEDDS was orally administrated in rats, and the Ert plasma level was monitored over time to measure pharmacokinetic parameters. Ert-SNEDDS led to enhancement in the drug bioavailability and changed the release route of Ert. Ert-SNEDDS showed enhanced cytotoxicity toward ASPC-1 and PANC-1 cells, and half-maximal inhibitory concentration values were obtained and compared with free Ert. Ert-SNEDDS may be considered as an alternative route for oral Ert delivery.

Continuously producible aztreonam-loaded inhalable lipid nanoparticles for cystic fibrosis-associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections - Development and in-vitro characterization

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder affecting nearly 105,000 patients worldwide and is characterized by poor respiratory function due to accumulation of thick mucus in the lungs, which not just acts as a physical barrier, but also provides a breeding ground for bacterial infections. These infections can be controlled with the help of antibiotics which can be delivered directly into the lungs for amplifying the local anti-bacterial effect. More than 50 % of CF patients are associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in their lungs which requires antibiotics such as Aztreonam (AZT). In this study, we prepared inhalable AZT-loaded lipid nanoparticles using Hot-melt extrusion (HME) coupled with probe sonication to target Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in the lungs. The optimized nanoparticles were tested for physicochemical properties, stability profile, in-vitro aerosolization, and antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The optimized nanoparticles with a PEI concentration of 0.1 % demonstrated a uniform particle size of <50 nm, a spherical shape observed under a transmission electron microscope, and >70 % drug entrapment. Incorporating cationic polymer, PEI, resulted in sustained drug release from the lipid nanoparticles. The in-vitro aerosolization studies exhibited a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of <4.3 μm, suggesting deposition of the nanoparticles in the respirable airway. The antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed the minimum inhibitory concentration of the formulation is 2-fold lower than plain AZT. Stability profile showed the formulations are stable after exposure to accelerated conditions. In conclusion, hot-melt extrusion in combination with probe sonication can be used as a potential method for the continuous production of AZT-loaded lipid nanoparticles with enhanced anti-bacterial activity.

Erlotinib and curcumin-loaded nanoparticles embedded in thermosensitive chitosan hydrogels for enhanced treatment of head and neck cancer

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain a major oncological challenge with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Erlotinib (Er) and Curcumin (Cm) are potential therapeutic agents for HNSCC, yet they are hindered by poor solubility and bioavailability. This study explored the optimization of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles co-loaded with Er and Cm (Er/Cm-NP), prepared via a D-optimal response surface design-guided nanoprecipitation process. The optimized formulation, optEr/Cm-NP, was then incorporated into chitosan/β-glycerophosphate hydrogels (optEr/Cm-NP-HG) to create an injectable intratumoral (IT) nanocomposite hydrogel (HG) delivery system. Physicochemical properties of the formulations, including gelation time, injectability, mechanical strength and drug release profiles were assessed alongside hemolytic activity. Compared to optEr/Cm-NP alone, the NP-loaded HG formulation exhibited a more pronounced modulation effect, enabling sustained and controlled drug release. The cytotoxicity of the developed formulations was evaluated using the FaDu HNSCC cancer cell line. Both optEr/Cm-NP and optEr/Cm-NP-HG21 displayed enhanced cytotoxicity compared to free drugs. Confocal laser microscopy and flow cytometry confirmed superior cellular uptake of Er and Cm when delivered via NPs or NP-loaded HG. Furthermore, a significant increase in apoptotic cell death upon treatment with optEr/Cm-NP was observed, highlighting its potential for HNSCC therapy. In vivo studies conducted on a xenograft HNSCC mouse model revealed the significant capacity of the intratumorally-injected optEr/Cm-NP-HG21 formulation to retard the tumor growth. Conclusively, the results presented herein report the successful development of a nanocomposite HG system incorporating NPs co-loaded with Er and Cm that could be efficiently utilized in the treatment of HNSCC.

Preparation of Erlotinib hydrochloride nanoparticles (anti-cancer drug) by RESS-C method and investigating the effective parameters

The size of the drug particles is one of the essential factors for the proper absorption of the drug compared to the dose of the drug. When particle size is decreased, drug uptake into the body increases. Recent studies have revealed that the rapid expansion of supercritical solution with cosolvent plays a significant role in preparing micron and submicron particles. This paper examines the preparation of Erlotinib hydrochloride nanoparticles using a supercritical solution through the cosolvent method for the first time. An examination of the parameters of temperature (318-338 K), pressures (15-25 MPa) and nozzle diameter (300-700 μm) was investigated by Box-Behnken design, and their respective effects on particle size revealed that the nozzle diameter has a more significant impact on particle size than the other parameters. The smallest particles were produced at temperature 338 K, pressure 20 MPa, and nozzle diameter 700 μm. Besides, the ERL nanoparticles were characterized using SEM, DLS, XRD, FTIR, and DSC analyses. Finally, the results showed that the average size of the ERL particles decreased from 31.6 μm to 200-1100 nm.

Engineering of Amphiphilic Erlotinib Analogue as Novel Nanomedicine for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Therapy

Purpose

Molecular targeted therapy is one of the most pivotal strategies in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, yet its curative effect is severely compromised by the poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability and inadequate tumor accumulation of targeted agents. To enhance the efficacy of targeted agents, we demonstrate a novel self-assemble amphiphilic molecule based on erlotinib as an effective nanodrug for anti-cancer treatment.

Methods

An amphiphilic molecule composed of hydrophobic erlotinib and hydrophilic biotin block was synthesized and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as well as high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Then, nanoassemblies of the amphiphilic molecules are formulated by using nanoprecipitation method. Subsequently, the size, morphology, cell uptake, the anticancer activity and in vivo distribution of the newly constructed erlotinib nanodrug were systematically assessed by some methods, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light-scattering (DLS), flow cytometry, in vivo imaging system etc.

Results

We developed a novel nanoformulation of erlotinib, which possesses a high drug loading of 45%. With the features of well-defined structure and small size, the obtained nanodrug could be effectively accumulated in tumor sites and rapidly internalized by cancer cells. Finally, the erlotinib-based nanoformulation showed considerably better anticancer activity compared to free erlotinib both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the nanodrug displayed great tolerability.

Conclusion

Combining the advantageous features of both nanotechnology and self-assemble, this novel erlotinib nanomedicine constitutes a promising therapeutic candidate for cancer treatment. This study also underlines the potential use of amphiphilic molecule for improving drug efficacy as well as reducing drug toxicity, which could become a general strategy for the preparation of nanodrugs of active agents.

PEGylated Erlotinib HCl Injectable Nanoformulation for Improved Bioavailability

The present study was undertaken to synthesize PEGylated monomethoxy poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (ε-Caprolactone) (mPEG-PCL) block copolymer and formulate Erlotinib HCl-loaded mPEG-PCL nanoparticles for enhancing the bioavailability of the drug. Using the ring-opening polymerization technique, PEGylated mPEG-PCL block copolymer was synthesized, and the structure of the copolymer was characterized using FTIR, ¹H-NMR, and DSC techniques. The solvent evaporation approach was used to effectively encapsulate Erlotinib HCl within block copolymeric nanoparticles. Erlotinib HCl-loaded mPEG-PCL nanoparticles had a mean particle size of 146.5 ± 2.37 nm and a zeta potential of -27.8 ± 2.77 mV. The nanoparticles had a percent entrapment efficiency of 80.78 ± 0.09%. The in vitro drug release of Erlotinib HCl-loaded copolymeric nanoparticles showed a slow and sustained release behavior which could be maintained for up to 72 h. The Korsmeyer-Peppas fitting findings indicated that the drug release process followed a non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. The pharmacokinetic (PK) behavior of the developed nanoformulation was studied in albino Wistar rats, and the relative bioavailability of the optimized NP formulation given by intravenous route was found to be 187.33%. The PK data suggested that Erlotinib HCl-loaded mPEG-PCL copolymeric nanoparticles can dramatically alter the PK behavior of Erlotinib HCl and greatly improve the drug's bioavailability by as much as three times when compared to the oral formulation. As a result, it was established that the block copolymeric nanoparticles have promise for the effective encapsulation of Erlotinib HCL for an injectable formulation with increased bioavailability.

Scalable Production and In Vitro Efficacy of Inhaled Erlotinib Nanoemulsion for Enhanced Efficacy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a global concern as one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. The treatment options for NSCLC are limited to systemic chemotherapy, administered either orally or intravenously, with no local chemotherapies to target NSCLC. In this study, we have prepared nanoemulsions of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), erlotinib, using the single step, continuous manufacturing, and easily scalable hot melt extrusion (HME) technique without additional size reduction step. The formulated nanoemulsions were optimized and evaluated for their physiochemical properties, in vitro aerosol deposition behavior, and therapeutic activity against NSCLC cell lines both in vitro and ex vivo. The optimized nanoemulsion showed suitable aerosolization characteristics for deep lung deposition. The in vitro anti-cancer activity was tested against the NSCLC A549 cell line which exhibited 2.8-fold lower IC₅₀ for erlotinib-loaded nanoemulsion, as compared to erlotinib-free solution. Furthermore, ex vivo studies using a 3D spheroid model also revealed higher efficacy of erlotinib-loaded nanoemulsion against NSCLC. Hence, inhalable nanoemulsion can be considered as a potential therapeutic approach for the local lung delivery of erlotinib to NSCLC.

Recent Advances in Boosting EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors-Based Cancer Therapy

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a key role in signal transduction pathways associated with cell proliferation, growth, and survival. Its overexpression and aberrant activation in malignancy correlate with poor prognosis and short survival. Targeting inhibition of EGFR by small-molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is emerging as an important treatment model besides of chemotherapy, greatly reshaping the landscape of cancer therapy. However, they are still challenged by the off-targeted toxicity, relatively limited cancer types, and drug resistance after long-term therapy. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of oral, pulmonary, and injectable drug delivery systems for enhanced and targeting TKI delivery to tumors and reduced side effects. Importantly, EGFR-TKI-based combination therapies not only greatly broaden the applicable cancer types of EGFR-TKI but also significantly improve the anticancer effect. The mechanisms of TKI resistance are summarized, and current strategies to overcome TKI resistance as well as the application of TKI in reversing chemotherapy resistance are discussed. Finally, we provide a perspective on the future research of EGFR-TKI-based cancer therapy.

Optimized L-SNEDDS and spray-dried S-SNEDDS using a linked QbD-DM3 rational design for model compound ketoprofen

A QbD-DM³ strategy was used to design ketoprofen (KTF) optimized liquid (L-SNEDDS) and solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (S-SNEDDS). Principal component analysis was used to identify the optimized L-SNEDDS containing Capmul® MCM NF, 10 % w/w; Kolliphor® ELP, 60 % w/w; and propylene glycol, 30 % w/w. The S-SNEDDS was manufactured by spray-drying a feed dispersion prepared by dissolving the optimized KTF-loaded L-SNEDDS in an ethanol-Aerosil® 200 dispersion. A Box Behnken design was employed to evaluate the effect of drug concentration (DC), Aerosil® 200 concentration (AC) and feed rate (FR) on maximizing percent yield (PY) and loading efficiency (LE). The optimal levels of DC, AC, and FR were 19.9 % w/w, 30.0 % w/w, and 15.0 %, respectively. The optimized S-SNEDDS was amorphous, and its dissolution showed a 2.37-fold increase in drug release compared to KTF in 0.1 HCl. An optimized independent spray-dried S-SNEDDS verification batch showed that the predicted and observed PY and LE were 70.49 % and 92.49 %, and 70.02 % and 91.27 %, respectively. The optimized L-SNEDDS and S-SNEDDS also met their quality target product profile criteria for globule size <100 nm, polydispersity index < 0.400, emulsification time < 30 s, and KTF L-SNEDDS solubility 100-fold greater than its water solubility.

Electrospun self-emulsifying core-shell nanofibers for effective delivery of paclitaxel

The poor solubility of numerous drugs pose a long-existing challenge to the researchers in the fields of pharmaceutics, bioengineering and biotechnology. Many "top-down" and "bottom-up" nano fabrication methods have been exploited to provide solutions for this issue. In this study, a combination strategy of top-down process (electrospinning) and bottom-up (self-emulsifying) was demonstrated to be useful for enhancing the dissolution of a typical poorly water-soluble anticancer model drug (paclitaxel, PTX). With polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K90) as the filament-forming matrix and drug carrier, polyoxyethylene castor oil (PCO) as emulsifier, and triglyceride (TG) as oil phase, Both a single-fluid blending process and a coaxial process were utilized to prepare medicated nanofibers. Scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM) results clearly demonstrated the morphology and inner structures of the nanofibers. The lipid nanoparticles of emulsions after self-emulsification were also assessed through TEM. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) and in vitro dissolution tests demonstrated that the cores-shell nanofibers could provide a better self-emulsifying process int terms of a higher EE and a better drug sustained release profile. Meanwhile, an increase of sheath fluid rate could benefit an even better results, suggesting a clear process-property-performance relationship. The protocols reported here pave anew way for effective oral delivery of poorly water-soluble drug.

Photoresponsive Nanocarriers Based on Lithium Niobate Nanoparticles for Harmonic Imaging and On-Demand Release of Anticancer Chemotherapeutics

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have the potential for increasing the efficiency of chemotherapeutics by enhancing the drug accumulation at specific target sites, thereby reducing adverse side effects and mitigating patient acquired resistance. In particular, photo-responsive nanomaterials have attracted much interest due to their ability to release molecular cargos on demand upon light irradiation. In some settings, they can also provide complementary information by optical imaging on the (sub)cellular scale. We herein present a system based on lithium niobate harmonic nanoparticles (LNO HNPs) for the decoupled multi-harmonic cell imaging and near-infrared light-triggered delivery of an erlotinib derivative (ELA) for the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-overexpressing carcinomas. The ELA cargo was covalently conjugated to the surface of silica-coated LNO HNPs through a coumarinyl photo-cleavable linker, achieving a surface loading of the active molecule of 27 nmol/mg NPs. The resulting nanoconjugates (LNO-CM-ELA NPs) were successfully imaged upon pulsed laser excitation at 1250 nm in EGFR-overexpressing human prostate cancer cells DU145 by detecting the second harmonic emission at 625 nm, in the tissue transparency window. Tuning the laser at 790 nm resulted in the uncaging of the ELA cargo as a result of the second harmonic emission of the inorganic HNP core at 395 nm. This protocol induced a significant growth inhibition in DU145 cells, which was only observed upon specific irradiation at 790 nm, highlighting the promising capabilities of LNO-CM-ELA NPs for theranostic applications.

Improved oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble vorinostat by self-microemulsifying drug delivery system

Background

Vorinostat is a histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) with anticancer properties. However, it is plagued by low water solubility, low permeability (BCS class IV drug), and suboptimal pharmacokinetics. The purpose of the present study was to develop a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) to enhance the oral bioavailability of vorinostat. Capryol 90, labrasol, and polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) were selected as oil phase, surfactant, and co-surfactant, respectively. The vorinostat self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems were tested for self-microemulsifying time, phase separation, effect of pH, droplet size, zeta potential, dilution study, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy analysis, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). A rat model in vivo pharmacokinetic study was conducted for the optimized formulation against vorinostat pure drug powder.

Results

The results from the characterization studies showed that the optimized formulation (F7) self-microemulsification time was 1.4 ± 0.05 min and no precipitation or phase separation was observed. The mean droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential of the optimized formulation (F7) were found to be 272.9 ± 82.7 nm, 0.415, and − 57.2 mV, respectively. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the optimized formulation (F7) showed a 1.6-fold increase in maximum concentration (Cmax) and a 3.6-fold increase in area under the curve (AUC(0−∞)), in comparison with pure drug in suspension.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that SMEDDS formulation could be an effective method for increasing the oral bioavailability of vorinostat, which is poorly water soluble.

A Comprehensive Insight on Self Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems

BACKGROUND

The oral route is a highly recommended route for the delivery of a drug. But most lipophilic drugs are difficult to deliver via this route due to their low aqueous solubility. Selfemulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) have emerged as a potential approach of increasing dissolution of a hydrophobic drug due to spontaneous dispersion in micron or nano sized globules in the GI tract under mild agitation.

OBJECTIVE

The main motive of this review article is to describe the mechanisms, advantages, disadvantages, factors affecting, effects of excipients, possible mechanisms of enhancing bioavailability, and evaluation of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems.

RESULTS

Self emulsifying systems incorporate the hydrophobic drug inside the oil globules, and a monolayer is formed by surfactants to provide the low interfacial tension, which leads to improvement in the dissolution rate of hydrophobic drugs. The globule size of self-emulsifying systems depends upon the type and ratio of excipients in which they are used. The ternary phase diagram is constructed to find out the range of concentration of excipients used. This review article also presents recent and updated patents on self-emulsifying drug delivery systems. Self-emulsifying systems have the ability to enhance the oral bioavailability and solubility of lipophilic drugs.

CONCLUSION

This technique offers further advantages such as bypassing the first pass metabolism via absorption of drugs through the lymphatic system, easy manufacturing, reducing enzymatic hydrolysis, inter and intra subject variability, and food effects.

Antifungal Cationic Nanoemulsion Ferrying Miconazole Nitrate with Synergism to Control Fungal Infections: In Vitro, Ex Vivo, and In Vivo Evaluations

This study aimed to deliver a cationic nanoemulsion carrying miconazole nitrate (MCN) to control fungal infections using excipients for synergism. Peceol (oil) and labrasol (surfactant) were selected based on maximum solubility and zone of inhibition values against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Optimized MCNE11 was evaluated [size, zeta potential, % entrapment efficiency (%EE), % transmittance, viscosity, refractive index, extrudability, polydispersity (PDI), morphology, and pH]. An in vitro drug release study was conducted for comparison between DS (drug suspension) and MNE11. In vitro hemolysis was studied at two different concentrations (0.625 and 2.5 μg/mL). Permeation profiles were generated using rat skin. A Draize test was conducted using rabbit to negate irritability issues. Finally, a stability test of MCNE11 was conducted for 12 months. The results showed that MCNE11 (cationic) was the most optimized in term of size, %EE, and PDI. The drug release from MCNE11 was higher compared to DS but comparable to MNE11 (anionic), suggesting no impact of the imposed cationic charge on the release behavior. Moreover, permeation parameters of MCNE11 were significantly (p < 0.05) greater than MNE11, which may be attributed to the combined impact of size (low), surfactant (for reversible changes), and electrostatic interaction (nanoglobules-skin surface). Thus, stable MCN11 possessing high %EE (89.8%), low size (145 nm), maximum flux (5.7 ± 0.1 μg/cm²/h), high drug deposition (932.7 ± 41.6 μg/cm²), optimal viscosity (44.17 ± 0.8 cP), low PDI (0.21), optimal zeta potential (+28.1 mV), and low hemolysis can be promising alternatives to conventional cream to control resistant and recurring types of fungal infections.

Integrated in silico formulation design of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems

The drug formulation design of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) often requires numerous experiments, which are time- and money-consuming. This research aimed to rationally design the SEDDS formulation by the integrated computational and experimental approaches. 4495 SEDDS formulation datasets were collected to predict the pseudo-ternary phase diagram by the machine learning methods. Random forest (RF) showed the best prediction performance with 91.3% for accuracy, 92.0% for sensitivity and 90.7% for specificity in 5-fold cross-validation. The pseudo-ternary phase diagrams of meloxicam SEDDS were experimentally developed to validate the RF prediction model and achieved an excellent prediction accuracy (89.51%). The central composite design (CCD) was used to screen the best ratio of oil-surfactant-cosurfactant. Finally, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation was used to investigate the molecular interaction between excipients and drugs, which revealed the diffusion behavior in water and the role of cosurfactants. In conclusion, this research combined machine learning, central composite design, molecular modeling and experimental approaches for rational SEDDS formulation design. The integrated computer methodology can decrease traditional drug formulation design works and bring new ideas for future drug formulation design.

Development of Oral Tablet Formulation Containing Erlotinib: Randomly Methylated-β-cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex Using Direct Compression Method

Objectives

Erlotinib (ERL) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has been used in the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its low aqueous solubility limits its absorption and oral bioavailability. To overcome these pharmacokinetic drawbacks, complexation of ERL can be applied. The aim of this study was to develop and characterize an oral tablet formulation containing ERL: Randomly methylated-β-cyclodextrin (RAMEB-CD) inclusion complex to enhance solubility and oral bioavailability of ERL.

Materials and Methods

An inclusion complex was prepared with RAMEB-CD using co-lyophilization technique. Structural characterization was performed using X-ray diffractometry and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Tablet formulation of ERL: RAMEB-CD inclusion complex were prepared using direct compression technique. Tablet characteristics like hardness, diameter, thickness, friability, weight variability, disintegration and dissolution were evaluated. Flow properties of the powder were also determined.

Results

Characterization studies suggested that stable complexes between ERL and RAMEB-CD were obtained with co-lyophilization method. Tablet formulation using inclusion complex of ERL and RAMEB-CD with drug dose equivalent to 25 mg was successfully prepared using direct compression technique. Physical properties of the powder mixture were studied - angle of repose (°): 34.27±1.78; flow time: 2.2±0.4; HR: 1.05±0.02; compressibility index: 14.27±1.55. Moisture content (%) was found to be 0.27±0.05. The thickness, diameter and hardness values were 3.92±0.05 mm, 11.3±0.06 mm and 81.38±2.27 N, respectively. In uniformity of weight test, the average weight was 404.57±1.6 mg, with less than 5% deviation in 20 randomly selected tablets. Friability value was 0.27% and the disintegration time was found to be less than 15 min. Importantly, dissolution study showed that solubility of ERL was increased by complexation with RAMEB-CD. After 60 minutes, 99% of drug was released from the tablet formulation.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate that a new tablet formulation of ERL: RAMEB-CD inclusion complex could be an alternative approach to achieve increased dissolution and oral bioavailability of ERL for NSCLC treatment.

Formulation and In Vivo Evaluation of a Solid Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System Using Oily Liquid Tocotrienols as Model Active Substance

Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) can improve the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Solid self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (s-SEDDS) offer several advantages including improved drug stability, ease of administration, and production. Most compounds employed in developing s-SEDDS are solid in nature, with a high amount of surfactants added. The aim of this study was to develop an s-SEDDS using a tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) as the model liquid active substance via a simple adsorption method. The solid formulation was developed using magnesium aluminosilicate as the carrier with 70% TRF and 30% surfactants (poloxamer and Labrasol^®). The formulation showed good self-emulsification efficiency with stable emulsion formed, excellent powder flowability, and small emulsion droplet size of 210–277 nm. The s-SEDDS with combined surfactants (poloxamer and Labrasol^®) showed a faster absorption rate compared to preparations with only a single surfactant and enhanced oral bioavailability (3.4–3.8 times higher) compared to the non-self-emulsifying oily preparation when administered at a fasted state in rats. In conclusion, an s-SEDDS containing a high amount of TRF was successfully developed. It may serve as a useful alternative to a liquid product with enhanced oral bioavailability and the added advantage of being a solid dosage form.

Improved oral bioavailability, cellular uptake, and cytotoxic activity of zingerone via nano-micelles drug delivery system

Herein, a nano-micelle drug delivery system was developed to orally improved zingerone's bioavailability and its antitumor effect. Indeed, zingerone-loaded d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate micelles (ZTMs) were effectively prepared, characterised and assessed. The ZTMs had diameter, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of 50.62 ± 0.25 nm, 0.168 ± 0.006, and -28.07 ± 0.33 mV, respectively, coupled with a high entrapment efficiency (m/m, %) were 94.71 ± 2.02. The release rate of ZTMs in three media was significantly greater than that of free zingerone. Intriguingly, results obtained from pharmacokinetic studies showed that the oral bioavailability of the ZTMs was enhanced by 5.10 times in comparison with the free zingerone. Further, the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of ZTMs and free zingerone was 7.56 μg/ml and 14.30 μg/ml, respectively, on HepG2 cells. Hence, ZTMs may be used as a potential approach to enrich the solubility, bioavailability, and concomitant anti-proliferative effect of zingerone in vitro.

Improvement of Oral Bioavailability and Anti-Tumor Effect of Zingerone Self-Microemulsion Drug Delivery System

This study sought to prepare a self-microemulsion drug delivery system containing zingerone (Z-SMEDDS) to improve the low oral bioavailability of zingerone and anti-tumor effect. Z-SMEDDS was characterized by particle size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency, while its pharmacokinetics and anti-tumor effects were also evaluated. Z-SMEDDS had stable physicochemical properties, including average particle size of 17.29 ± 0.07 nm, the zeta potential of -22.81 ± 0.29 mV, and the encapsulation efficiency of 97.96% ± 0.02%. In vitro release studies have shown the release of zingerone released by Z-SMEDDS was significantly higher than free zingerone in different release media. The relative oral bioavailability of Z-SMEDDS was 7.63 times compared with free drug. Meanwhile, the half inhibitory concentration （IC50）of Z-SMEDDS and free zingerone was 8.45 μg/mL and 13.30 μg/mL, respectively on HepG2. This study may provide a preliminary basis for further clinical research and application of Z-SMEDDS.

Nano-synergistic combination of Erlotinib and Quinacrine for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapeutics - Evaluation in biologically relevant in-vitro models

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pre-dominant subtype of lung cancer, is a global disorder affecting millions worldwide. One of the early treatments for NSCLC was use of a first-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Erlotinib (Erlo). However, chronic exposure to Erlo led to development of acquired drug resistance (ADR) in NSCLC, limiting the clinical use of Erlo. A potential approach to overcome development of ADR is a multi-drug therapy. It has been previously reported that Erlo and Quinacrine (QA), an anti-malarial drug, can work synergistically to inhibit tumor progression in NSCLC. However, the combination failed at clinical stages, citing lack of efficacy. In this study, an effort has been made to improve the efficacy of Erlo-QA combination via development of nanoformulations, known to enhance therapeutic efficacy of potent chemotherapies. Synergy between Erlo and QA was measured via estimating the combination indices (CI). It was seen that established combination of nanoformulations (CI: 0.25) had better synergy than plain drug solutions (CI: 0.85) in combination. Following extensive in-vitro testing, data were simulated in biologically relevant 3D tumor models. Two tumor models were developed for extensive in-vitro testing, 3D-Spheroids grown in ultra-low attachment culture plates for efficacy evaluation and a 5D-spheroid model in 5D-sphericalplate with capability of growing 750 spheroids/well for protein expression analysis. Extensive studies on these models revealed that combination of Erlo and QA nanoformulations overall had a better effect in terms of synergy enhancement as compared to plain drug combination. Further, effect of combinatorial therapy on molecular markers was evaluated on 5D-Sphericalplate leading to similar effects on synergy enhancement. Results from present study suggests that combination of nanoformulations can improve the synergy between Erlo and QA while reducing the overall therapeutic dose.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors and their unique therapeutic potentialities to combat cancer

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death with a mortality rate of 12%. Although significant progress has been achieved in cancer research, the effective treatment of cancer remains the greatest global challenge in medicine. Dysregulation of tyrosine kinases (TK) is one of the characteristics of several types of cancers. Thus, drugs that target and inhibit these enzymes, known as TK inhibitors (TKIs), are considered vital chemotherapeutics to combat various types of cancer. The oral bioavailability of available TKIs and their targeted therapy are their potential benefits. Based on these characteristics, most TKIs are included in first/second-line therapy for the treatment of different cancers. This review aims to shed light on orally-active TKIs (natural and synthetic molecules) and their promising implication in the therapy of numerous types of tumors along with their mechanisms of action. Further, recent progress in the development of synthetic and isolation of natural TKIs is reviewed. A significant growth in research regarding the development of new-generation TKIs is made with time (23 FDA-approved TKIs from 2018) due to their better therapeutic response. Oral bioavailability should be considered as an important parameter while developing of new-generation TKIs; however, drug delivery systems can also be used to address issue of poor bioavailability to a certain extent. Moreover, clinical trials should be designed in consideration of the development of resistance and tumor heterogeneity.

Orally administered self-emulsifying drug delivery system in disease management: advancement and patents

Introduction: Oral administration of a drug is the most common, ideal and preferred route of administration. The main problem of oral drug formulations is their low bioavailability arises from poor aqueous solubility of drug. Aqueous solubility of lipophilic drugs can be improved by various techniques like salt formation, complexation, addition of co-solvent etc. but self-emulsifying drug-delivery system (SEDDS) is getting more attention for increasing the solubility of such drugs. The SEDDS is an isotropic mixture of drug, lipids, and emulsifiers, usually with one or more hydrophilic co-solvents/co-emulsifiers. This system is having ability to generate oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions or microemulsions upon gentle agitation followed by dilution with aqueous phase. The SEDDSs are relatively newer, lipid-based technological innovations possessing unparalleled potential in improving oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs.Areas covered: This review provides updated information regarding the types of SEDDS, their preparation techniques, drug delivery and related recent patents along with marketed formulations.Expert opinion: The SEDDS has been explored for improving bioavailability, rising intra-subject heterogeneity, and increasing solubility. SEDDS offers the benefit of a protective effect against the hostile environment in the gut. The unique fabrication techniques provide specific strategy to overcome the low bioavailability and poor solubility problems.

Self-Nano-Emulsifying Drug-Delivery Systems: From the Development to the Current Applications and Challenges in Oral Drug Delivery

Approximately one third of newly discovered drug molecules show insufficient water solubility and therefore low oral bio-availability. Self-nano-emulsifying drug-delivery systems (SNEDDSs) are one of the emerging strategies developed to tackle the issues associated with their oral delivery. SNEDDSs are composed of an oil phase, surfactant, and cosurfactant or cosolvent. SNEDDSs characteristics, their ability to dissolve a drug, and in vivo considerations are determinant factors in the choice of SNEDDSs excipients. A SNEDDS formulation can be optimized through phase diagram approach or statistical design of experiments. The characterization of SNEDDSs includes multiple orthogonal methods required to fully control SNEDDS manufacture, stability, and biological fate. Encapsulating a drug in SNEDDSs can lead to increased solubilization, stability in the gastro-intestinal tract, and absorption, resulting in enhanced bio-availability. The transformation of liquid SNEDDSs into solid dosage forms has been shown to increase the stability and patient compliance. Supersaturated, mucus-permeating, and targeted SNEDDSs can be developed to increase efficacy and patient compliance. Self-emulsification approach has been successful in oral drug delivery. The present review gives an insight of SNEDDSs for the oral administration of both lipophilic and hydrophilic compounds from the experimental bench to marketed products.

Development, Characterization, and in-vivo Pharmacokinetic Study of Lamotrigine Solid Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System

Purpose

This study aimed to prepare solid self-nanoemulsified drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) of lamotrigine (LMG) for enhancing its dissolution and oral bioavailability (BA).

Methods

Nineteen liquid SNEDDS were prepared (R1-R19) using D-optimal design with different ratios of oil, surfactant (S), and cosurfactant (Cos). The formulations were characterized regarding robustness to dilution, droplet size, thermodynamic stability testing, self-emulsification time, in-vitro release in 0.1 N HCl and phosphate buffer (PB; pH 6.8). Design Expert^® 11 software was used to select the optimum formulations. Eight S-SNEDDS were prepared (S1-S8) using 2³ factorial design, and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optimum formulation was chosen regarding in-vitro drug released in 0.1 N HCl and PB, compared to pure LMG and commercial tablet (Lamictal^®). The BA of LMG from the optimized S-SNEDDS formulation was evaluated in rabbits compared to pure LMG and Lamictal^®.

Results

The optimized S-SNEDDS was S2, consisting of R9 adsorbed on Aeroperl^® 300 in a ratio of 1:1, with the best results regarding in-vitro drug released in 0.1 N HCl at 15 min (100%) compared to pure LMG (73.40%) and Lamictal^® (79.43%), and in-vitro drug released in PB at 45 min (100%) compared to pure LMG (30.46%) and Lamictal^® (92.08%). DSC, PXRD, and SEM indicated that LMG was molecularly dispersed within the solid nano-system. The BA of S2 was increased 2.03 and 1.605 folds compared to pure LMG, and Lamictal^®, respectively.

Conclusion

S2 is a promising S-SNEDDS formulation. It can be a potential carrier for improving dissolution, and BA of LMG.

Preparation and Characterization of Fenofibrate-Loaded PVP Electrospun Microfibrous Sheets

Fenofibrate-loaded electrospun microfibrous sheets were prepared in an attempt to enhance the dissolution of the poorly soluble antihyperlipidemic agent and to improve its bioavailability. Physicochemical changes that appeared during the electrospinning process were monitored using a wide array of solid-state characterization techniques, including attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, while fiber morphology was monitored via scanning electron microscopy. Dissolution studies carried out both in 0.025 M sodium dodecyl sulfate and in water revealed an immediate release of the active agent, with an approximately 40-fold release rate enhancement in water when compared to the micronized active agent. The dramatic increase in dissolution was attributed partially to the amorphous form of the originally crystalline active agent and the rapid disintegration of the electrospun microfibrous sheet due to its high surface area and porosity. The obtained results could pave the way for a formulation of the frequently used antihyperlipidemic agent with increased bioavailability.

The Role of Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems of CDODA-Me in Sensitizing Erlotinib-Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

We have investigated the effects of combination treatment involving ERL (erlotinib) with a glycyrrhetinic acid analog, CDODA-Me in overcoming ERL resistance, providing efforts to improve the oral bioavailability of this treatment using self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS). A Qbd (quality-by-design) approach was used to prepare CDMS (CDODA-SNEDDS, 2 μΜ), which was characterized using surface response methodology to optimize drug content, particle size, and drug release. CDMS/ERL combinations showed synergism in wild-type and resistant H1975 and HCC827 cell lines with combination index values less than 1. Increased apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential depletion, and enhanced intracellular ROS levels were also observed in combination therapy. Western blot analysis showed that combination therapy inhibited phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (p < 0.01 in all cell lines) and Met receptor tyrosine kinase (MET) (p < 0.01 in all cell lines). In vivo, the relative bioavailability of CDMS increased significantly from 22.13 to 151.76 μg/mL compared to the dosing of oral suspension (dose equivalent). Our results demonstrate that combination therapy involving ERL and CDODA-Me overcomes resistance through dual inhibition of p-EGFR and p-MET leading to the induction of apoptosis, intracellular ROS accumulation, and decreased mitochondrial potential. Furthermore, CDMS improved the oral bioavailability of CDODA-Me.

Harnessing the therapeutic potential of anticancer drugs through amorphous solid dispersions

The treatment of cancer is still a major challenge. But tremendous progress in anticancer drug discovery and development has occurred in the last few decades. However, this progress has resulted in few effective oncology products due to challenges associated with anticancer drug delivery. Oral administration is the most preferred route for anticancer drug delivery, but the majority of anticancer drugs currently in product pipelines and the majority of those that have been commercially approved have inherently poor water solubility, and this cannot be mitigated without compromising their potency and stability. The poor water solubility of anticancer drugs, in conjunction with other factors, leads to suboptimal pharmacokinetic performance. Thus, these drugs have limited efficacy and safety when administered orally. The amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) is a promising formulation technology that primarily enhances the aqueous solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs. In this review, we discuss the challenges associated with the oral administration of anticancer drugs and the use of ASD technology in alleviating these challenges. We emphasize the ability of ASDs to improve not only the pharmacokinetics of poorly water-soluble anticancer drugs, but also their efficacy and safety. The goal of this paper is to rationalize the application of ASD technology in the formulation of anticancer drugs, thereby creating superior oncology products that lead to improved therapeutic outcomes.

A Rundown Through Various Methods Used in the Formulation of Solid Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (S-SEDDS)

The most common route of the drug administration is oral route despite the fact that most drugs have low oral aqueous solubility and bioavailability especially for BCS class II and class IV drugs. Many methods have been developed in recent years to overcome the poor solubility and oral bioavailability which includes self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) as one of the approaches. Not only for hydrophobic drugs, but also for hydrophilic compounds with low permeability, bioavailability can be enhanced by self nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems. Recently, a lot of focus and attention has been put in the conversion of liquid SEDDS (L-SEDDS) to solid SEDDS (S-SEDDS) to overcome the limitations of liquid formulations related to their physical and chemical stability, portability, accurate dosing, and limited choices of dosage forms. This article aims to review the formulation components used in SEDDS, various approaches used in the conversion of L-SEDDS to S-SEDDS, their applications, merits, and demerits.

Enhancement of Oral Bioavailability and Anti-hyperuricemic Activity of Isoliquiritigenin via Self-Microemulsifying Drug Delivery System

The aim of this study was to develop a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) for enhancement of the oral bioavailability of isoliquiritigenin (ISL) as well as evaluate its in vivo anti-hyperuricemic effect in rats. The ISL-loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (ISL-SMEDDS) was comprised of ethyl oleate (EO, oil phase), Tween 80 (surfactant), and PEG 400 (co-surfactant). The ISL-SMEDDS exhibited an acceptable narrow size distribution (44.78 ± 0.35 nm), negative zeta potential (- 10.67 ± 0.86 mV), and high encapsulation efficiency (98.17 ± 0.24%). The in vitro release study indicated that the release rates of the formulation were obviously higher in different release media (HCl, pH 1.2; PBS, pH 6.8; double-distilled water, pH 7.0) compared with the ISL solution. The oral bioavailability of the ISL-SMEDDS was enhanced by 4.71 times in comparison with the free ISL solution. More importantly, ISL-SMEDDS significantly reduced uric acid level by inhibiting xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity in the model rats. Collectively, the prepared ISL-SMEDDS proved to be potential carriers for enhancing the solubility and oral bioavailability of ISL, as well as ameliorating its anti-hyperuricemic effect.

Quality by Design Enabled Development of Oral Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System of a Novel Calcimimetic Cinacalcet HCl Using a Porous Carrier: In Vitro and In Vivo Characterisation

In this present research, work quality by design-enabled development of cinacalcet HCl (CH)-loaded solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) was conducted using a porous carrier in order to achieve immediate drug release and better oral bioavailability. Capmul MCM (CAP), Tween 20 (TW 20) and Transcutol P (TRP) were selected as excipients. Cumulative % drug release at 30 min (Q30), emulsification times (ET), mean globule size (GS) and polydispersity index (PDI) were identified as critical quality attributes (CQAs). Factor mode effect analysis (FMEA) and Taguchi screening design were applied for screening of factors. The optimised single dose of S-SNEDDS obtained using Box-Behnken design (BBD) consisted of 30 mg of CH, 50 mg of CAP, 149.75 mg of TW 20, 55 mg of TRP and 260.75 mg of Neusilin US2. It showed an average Q30 of 97.6%, ET of 23.3 min, GS of 89.5 nm and PDI of 0.211. DSC, XRD and SEM predict the amorphous form of S-SNEDDS. In vivo pharmacokinetic study revealed better pharmacokinetic parameters of S-SNEDDS. The above study concluded that the optimised S-SNEDDS is effective to achieve the desired objective. Graphical Abstract.

Erlotinib-Valproic Acid Liquisolid Formulation: Evaluating Oral Bioavailability and Cytotoxicity in Erlotinib-Resistant Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Lung cancer patients develop acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors including erlotinib (ERL) after few months of primary treatment. Evidently, new chemotherapy strategies to delay or overcome the resistance are urgently needed to improve the clinical outcome in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In this paper, we have investigated the cytotoxic interaction of ERL and valproic acid (VA) in ERL-resistant NSCLC cells and developed a liquisolid formulation of ERL-VA for improving oral bioavailability of ERL. ERL is weakly basic, biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) class II drug with extremely poor aqueous solubility while VA is a branched chain fatty acid. Ionic interaction between ERL and VA (1:2 M ratio) resulted in significant enhancement in saturation solubility of ERL at different pH range. Liquisolid formulation of ERL-VA (EVLF) developed using PEG 400 and mesoporous calcium silicate was characterized for solid state and in vitro dissolution in biorelevant dissolution medium (FaSSIF and FeSSIF). Cytotoxicity of ERL was enhanced by 2-5 folds on co-incubation with VA in HCC827/ERL cell line. Flow cytometry analysis using AnnexinV-FITC assay demonstrated that VA and ERL alone have poor apoptotic effect on HCC827/ERL cells while combination showed around 69% apoptotic cells. Western blot analysis confirmed the role of survivin in overcoming resistance. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies of EVLF in rats demonstrated a 199% relative bioavailability compared to ERL suspension. Thus, EVLF could be a promising alternative to current ERL formulations in the treatment of NSCLC.

Solidification to improve the biopharmaceutical performance of SEDDS: Opportunities and challenges

Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) offer potential for overcoming the inherent slow dissolution and poor oral absorption of hydrophobic drugs by retaining them in a solubilised state during gastrointestinal transit. However, the promising biopharmaceutical benefits of liquid lipid formulations has not translated into widespread commercial success, due to their susceptibility to long term storage and in vivo precipitation issues. One strategy that has emerged to overcome such limitations, is to combine the solubilisation and dissolution enhancing properties of lipids with the stabilising effects of solid carrier materials. The development of intelligent hybrid drug formulations has presented new opportunities to harness the potential of emulsified lipids in optimising oral bioavailability for lipophilic therapeutics. Specific emphasis of this review is placed on the impact of solidification approaches and excipients on the biopharmaceutical performance of self-emulsifying lipids, with findings highlighting the key design considerations that should be implemented when developing hybrid lipid-based formulations.

Self Emulsifying Drug Delivery System: A Recent Approach

In recent years, nearly 40 % newer drugs compounds are hydrophobic in nature, which is a major challenge now-a-days for oral drug delivering due to low aqueous solubility. Lipid based drug delivery system is one of the favourable approach for poorly soluble compounds which can improve the drug absorption and oral bioavailability. Due to ion-pairing with appropriate surfactant and co-surfactant the macromolecular drug molecular oil droplet being found in the gut flow oral absorption which sufficiently stable towards lipase. Due to the formation of emulsified drug in micron level, it can efficiently endow the oral bioavailability. Several comprehensive papers have been published in the literature illustration diverse type of lipid based formulation with recent advancements. This article is based on an exhaustive and updated review on newer technology which out line an explicit discussion on its formulations and industrial scale up.

Efficacy of a novel LyP-1-containing self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) for active targeting to breast cancer

An ideal cancer therapy targets the tumor cells selectively without damaging healthy tissues. Even though the tumor-specific markers are limited, these molecules can be used for the delivery of anti-cancer drugs as an active targeting strategy. Since the lymphatic system plays a critical role in the dissemination of cancer cells, the drugs directed through lymphatics can feasibly reach to the sites of metastasis. LyP-1 is a peptide that binds to the p32 receptor which is highly expressed not only on the lymphatic endothelium but also on the malignant cells; thus, making this peptide ligand a preferable candidate to mediate active targeting of lymphatics and cancer cells. In this study, different formulations of LyP-1 containing lipid-based nanopharmaceutics so-called self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) were developed and tested for their efficacy in targeting breast cancer. Following the selection of non-toxic formulation, doxorubicin hydrochloride and LyP-1 were co-administered in the SMEDDS, which resulted in a significant increase in in vitro cytotoxicity in p32-expressing breast cancer cells, 4T1 and MDA-MB-231. Accordingly, the uptake of LyP-1 in the SMEDDS by the cancer cells was demonstrated. The expression of p32 was detected in the 4T1 tumor tissues which were efficiently targeted with LyP-1 in the SMEDDS. When doxorubicin was co-administrated with LyP-1 in SMEDDS via intraperitonial administration, tumor growth and metastasis were significantly reduced. In conclusion, a novel and efficacious SMEDDS formulation containing LyP-1 with a droplet size less than 100 nm was developed for the lymphatic targeting of breast cancer.

Enhancing the Oral Absorption of Kinase Inhibitors Using Lipophilic Salts and Lipid-Based Formulations

The absolute bioavailability of many small molecule kinase inhibitors (smKIs) is low. The reasons for low bioavailability are multifaceted and include constraints due to first pass metabolism and poor absorption. For smKIs where absorption limits oral bioavailability, low aqueous solubility and high lipophilicity, often in combination with high-dose requirements have been implicated in low and variable absorption, food-effects, and absorption-related drug-drug interactions. The current study has evaluated whether preparation of smKIs as lipophilic salts/ionic liquids in combination with coadministration with lipid-based formulations is able to enhance absorption for examples of this compound class. Lipophilic (docusate) salt forms of erlotinib, gefitinib, ceritinib, and cabozantinib (as example smKIs demonstrating low aqueous solubility and high lipophilicity) were prepared and isolated as workable powder solids. In each case, the lipophilic salt exhibited high and significantly enhanced solubility in lipidic excipients (>100 mg/g) when compared to the free base or commercial salt form. Isolation as the lipophilic salt facilitated smKI loading in model lipid-based formulations at high concentration, increased in vitro solubilization at gastric and intestinal pH and in some cases increased oral absorption (∼2-fold for cabozantinib formulations in rats). Application of a lipophilic salt approach can therefore facilitate the use of lipid-based formulations for examples of the smKI compound class where low solubility limits absorption and is a risk factor for increased variability due to food-effects.