Research Articles
Characterization of Prototype Self-Nanoemulsifying Formulations of Lipophilic Compounds

https://doi.org/10.1002/jps.20673Get rights and content

Abstract

This study describes the evaluation and characterization of a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) consisting of a nonionic surfactant (Cremophor RH40), a mixture of long chain mono-, di-, and triacylglycerides (Maisine 35-1 and Sesame oil) and ethanol. Compositions containing 10% (w/w) ethanol, 40%-60% (w/w) lipid content, and 30%-50% (w/w) Cremophor RH40 were identified as pharmaceutically relevant, robust, and self-nanoemulsifying when dispersed in aqueous media. The influence of adding three different lipophilic model drug compounds (danazol, halofantrine, and probucol) to the SNEDDS was evaluated. While danazol precipitated from the SNEDDS after dispersion in aqueous media, halofantrine and procubol remained solubilized. Halofantrine- and procubol-loaded SNEDDS were evaluated in both saline and in media simulating fasted and fed-state intestinal fluid (FaSSIF and FeSSIF) using dynamic light scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques. Stable nanoemulsions with droplet sizes in the range of 20-50 nm were formed in all media and with and without drugs. The mean size of the droplets was neither affected significantly by being dispersed into the media simulating gastro intestinal fluid, nor by addition of the drug.

Section snippets

INTRODUCTION

The high-throughput screening approach in drug discovery within the pharmaceutical industry has lead to drug candidates with increasing lipophilicity.1 A typical characteristic for these compounds is low and variable oral bioavailability from solid dosage forms due to their poor water solubility. One increasingly popular approach to overcome this problem, is the use of a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS).2., 3., 4. The bioavailability enhancing properties of SEDDS compared to solid

Materials

Cremophor® RH40 (Cr RH40) (polyethoxylated hydrogenated castor oil obtained by ethoxylating hydrogenated castor oil with 40 mol ethylenoxide per mol) was obtained from BASF-BASIS Kemi, Copenhagen, Denmark and Maisine® 35-1 (obtained by partial alcoholysis of maize oil and contains a mixture of monoacylglycerides (MAG), diacylglycerides (DAG), and triacylglycerides (TAG) (39.7% MAG, 44.6% DAG, and 14.9% TAG)), was from Gattefosse, Saint-Priest cedex, France. Sesame oil was from Apoteket AB,

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The evaluated system was composed of the nonionic surfactant Cremophor RH40 (Cr RH40), a lipid phase consisting of a 1:1 w/w mixture of Maisine 35-1 and sesame oil, and ethanol. The system has previously been found to include self-emulsifying compositions giving resultant emulsions with particle size in the nanometer range, designated SNEDDS in the following.14,30

CONCLUSION

We have used turbidity measurements for rapid screening of different combinations of excipients in the development of robust SNEDDSs. Drug solubilization capacity of the preconcentrates were found to be compound dependent and upon dispersion precipitated danazol, for which the solubility was governed by ethanol. In the identified SNEDDS, the inclusion of a lipophilic drug compound had no profound effect on dispersion properties and particle size in saline. The droplet size of the identified

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work is part of the project “Explorative Pharmaceutical Formulations” and financially supported by VINNOVA in Sweden and VTU—Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation in Denmark. Linda Söderberg, Camurus AB are acknowledged for excellent technical assistance.

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    Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com).

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