Surface-adsorbed reverse micelle-loaded solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system of talinolol

Solid Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System (Solid SEDDS) for Testosterone Undecanoate: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation

OBJECTIVE

The current study aimed to investigate the potential of Solid Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (solid SEDDS) loaded with Testosterone Undecanoate (TU) (solid TUSEDDS). The solid TU-SEDDS was composed of TU, Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCT, oil), 2- Chloro-1-(chloromethyl) ethyl carbamate (EL-35, surfactant) and polyethylene glycol (PEG400, cosurfactant). It was expected to improve the dissolution and oral bioavailability of TU, as a result of investigating the feasibility of the clinical application of SEDDS.

METHODS

First, a TU-SEDDS was developed by using rational blends of components with the good solubilizing ability for TU. Next, a ternary phase diagram was constructed to determine the self-emulsifying region, and the formulation was optimized. Then, the solid TU-SEDDS formulation was established by screening suitable solid adsorptions. Finally, the prepared SEDDS, TUSEDDS and solid TU-SEDDS formulations were evaluated in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

The size of the solid TU-SEDDS was 189.1 ± 0.23 nm. The Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) results showed that the oil droplets were homogenous and spherical with good integrity. The Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-Ray Powder Dffraction (XRD) results indicated that the solid TU-SEDDS formulation almost preserves the amorphous state. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) indicated that neusilin US2 successfully adsorbed the TU-SEDDS. Drug release indicated that the dissolution of the solid TU-SEDDS was faster than that of Andriol Testocaps ®. Furthermore, in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK) studies in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats showed that the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the solid TU-SEDDS (487.54±208.80 μg/L×h) was higher than that of Andriol Testocaps® (418.93±273.52 μg/L×h, P < 0.05). In beagles not fed a high-fat diet, the AUC of the solid TU-SEDDS (5.81±4.03 μg/L×h) was higher than that of Andriol Testocaps ® (5.53±3.43 μg/L×h, P > 0.05). In beagles fed a high-fat diet, the AUC of the solid TUSEDDS (38.18±21.90 μg/L×h) was higher than that of Andriol Testocaps® (37.17±13.79 μg/L×h, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

According to the results of this research, oral solid TU-SEDDS is expected to be another alternative delivery system for the late-onset hypogonadism. This is beneficial to the transformation of existing drug delivery systems into preclinical and clinical studies.

Evaluation of Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (SNEDDS) for Poorly Water-Soluble Talinolol: Preparation, in vitro and in vivo Assessment

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo performance of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDSs) of talinolol (TAL), a poorly water-soluble drug.

Methods

Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems of TAL were prepared using various oils, non-ionic surfactants and/or water-soluble co-solvents and assessed visually/by droplet size measurement. Equilibrium solubility of TAL in the anhydrous and diluted SNEDDS was conducted to achieve the maximum drug loading. The in vitro dissolution experiments and human red blood cells (RBCs) toxicity test, ex vivo gut permeation studies, and bioavailability of SNEDDS in rats were studied to compare the representative formulations with marketed product Cordanum^® 50 mg and raw drug.

Results

The results from the characterization and solubility studies showed that SNEDDS formulations were stable with lower droplet sizes and higher TAL solubility. From the dissolution studies, it was found that the developed SNEDDS provided significantly higher rate of TAL release (>97% in 2.0 h) compared to raw TAL and marketed product Cordanum^®. The RBC lysis test suggested negligible toxicity of the formulation to the cells. The ex vivo permeability assessment and in vivo pharmacokinetics study of a selected SNEDDS formulation (F6) showed about four-fold increase in permeability and 1.58-fold enhanced oral bioavailability of TAL in comparison to pure drug, respectively.

Conclusion

Talinolol loaded SNEDDS formulations could be a potential oral pharmaceutical product with high drug-loading capacity, improved drug dissolution, increased gut permeation, reduced/no human RBC toxicity, and enhanced oral bioavailability.

Oral bioavailability enhancement and hepatoprotective effects of thymoquinone by self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system

Thymoquinone (TQ) is a poorly water soluble bioactive compound which shows poor oral bioavailability upon oral administration. Due to poor aqueous solubility and bioavailability of TQ, various self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) of TQ were developed and evaluated for enhancement of its hepatoprotective effects and oral bioavailability. Hepatoprotective and pharmacokinetic studies of TQ suspension and TQ-SNEDDS were carried out in rat models. Different SNEDDS formulations of TQ were developed and thermodynamically stable TQ-SNEDDS were characterized for physicochemical parameters and evaluated for drug release studies via dialysis membrane. Optimized SNEDDS formulation of TQ was selected for further evaluation of in vivo evaluation. In vivo hepatoprotective investigations showed significant hepatoprotective effects for optimized TQ-SNEDDS in comparison with TQ suspension. The oral administration of optimized SNEDDS showed significant improvement in in vivo absorption of TQ in comparison with TQ suspension. The relatively bioavailability of TQ was enhanced 3.87-fold by optimized SNEDDS in comparison with TQ suspension. The results of this research work indicated the potential of SNEDDS in enhancing relative bioavailability and therapeutic effects of natural bioactive compounds such as TQ.

Development, optimization and in vitro evaluation of norcantharidin loadedself-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (NCTD-SNEDDS)

This study focused on developing a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) containing bioactive surfactants under an efficient screening approach for overcoming problems associated with the delivery of norcantharidin (NCTD), a high dose chemotherapy agent having pH dependent solubility. Preliminary screening was implemented to select proper components combination. Besides the solubility of NCTD in the oil phase, emulsifying efficiency, droplet size and size distribution were also employed to select components of the SNEDDS. Moreover, the influence of surfactant and co-surfactant on the interfacial tension and droplets of nanoemulsions were investigated to further understand the mechanism of spontaneous emulsification. Co-surfactant addition promoted the emulsification via reducing the water/oil interfacial tension and viscosity. Ternary phase diagrams were constructed to investigate the phase behavior and designate the optimum systems. The alternative formulations were characterized for cloud point, dilution robustness, droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In vitro dissolution study showed that the dissolution rate of optimized formulation (NCTD 10 mg/g, EO 50 wt.%, Cremophor EL 35 wt.%, ethylene glycol 15 wt.%) was slower than drug suspension under the same conditions, confirming that the developed SNEDDS formulation would exhibit sustained release potential.

Biological investigation of a supersaturated self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system of Piper cubeba essential oil

In this work, the mechanism of Piper cubeba essential oil anti-inflammatory activity alone and as a supersaturated self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) was evaluated.