• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1097-1102
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• 2005

An O/W microemulsion system was developed to enhance the skin permeability of ace-clofenac. Of the oils studied, Labrafil? M 1944 CS was chosen as the oil phase: of the microemulson, as it showed a good solubilizing capacity. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to obtain the concentration range of oil, surfactant, Cremophor ELP, and co-surfactant, ethanol, for micoemulsion formation. Eight different formulations with various values of oil of $6-30\%$, water of $0-80\%$, and the mixture of surfactant and co-surfactant (at the ratio of 2) of $14-70\%$. The in vitro transdermal permeability of aceclofenac from the microemulsions was evaluated using Franz diffusion cells mounted with rat skin. The level of aceclofenac permeated was analyzed by HPLC and the droplet size' of the microemulsions was characterized using a Zetasizer Nano-ZS. Terpenes were added to the microemulsions at a level of $5\%$, and their effects on the skin permeation of aceclofenac were investigated. The mean diameters of the microemulsions ranged between approximately $10\~100nm$, and the skin permeability of the aceclofenac incorporated into the microemulsion systems was 5-fold higher than that of the ethanol vehicle. Of the various terpenes added, limonene had the best enhancing ability. These results indicate that the microemulsion pystem studied is a promising tool for the percutaneous delivery of aceclofenac.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.339-347
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• 2007

SMEDDS is mixture of oils, surfactants, and cosurfactants, which are emulsified in aqueous media under conditions of gentle agitation and digestive motility that would be encountered in the gastro-intestinal(GI) tract. The main purpose of this work is to prepare self-microemulsifying drug delivery system(SMEDDS) for oral bioavailability enhancement of a poorly water soluble drug, atorvastatin calcium. Solubility of atorvastatin calcium was determined in various vehicles. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to identity the efficient self-emulsification region and particle size distributions of the resultant micro emulsions were determined using a laser diffraction sizer. Optimized formulations for in vitro dissolution and bioavailability assessment were $Capryol^{(R)}$ 90(50%), Tetraglycol(16%), and $Cremophor^{(R)}$ EL(32%). The release rate of atorvastatin from SMEDDS was significantly higher than the conventional tablet ($Lipitor^{(R)}$), 2-fold. Our studies illustrated the potential use of SMEDDS for the delivery of hydrophobic compounds, such as atorvastatin calcium by the oral route.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.233-241
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• 2005

Ursolic acid (UA), a bioactive triterpene acid, has been known to increase collagen content in human skin in addition to other actions such as anti-inflammatory, skin-tumor prevention and anti-invasion. However, it is poorly soluble in water. Therefore, we firstly prepared microemulsion system with benzyl alcohol, ethanol and Cremophor EL, RH 40 and Brij 35 as surfactant in order to increase solubility of UA and then prepared microemulsion was dispersed in o/w cream base for the topical delivery of UA in an effort to improve anti-wrinkle effect. The pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were developed and various microemulsion formulations were prepared using benzyl alcohol as an oil, Cremophor EL, RH 40 and Brij 35 as a surfactant. The droplet size of microemulsions was characterized by dynamic light scattering. The accumulation of VA in the skin from topical cream was evaluated in vitro using hairless mouse skins. The mean droplet size was $26.8{\pm}6.6$ nm for microemulsions II with Cremophor EL. All UA creams showed pseudoplastic flow and hysterisis loop in their rheogram, depending on the type of materials added in topical creams. The in vitro accumulation data demonstrated the UA topical cream prepared with the combination of Poloxamer 407 and Xanthan gum as a copolymer showed higher accumulation percentage than those prepared with either Poloxamer 407 or Xanthan gum. These results suggest that UA topical cream using microemulsion systems may be promising for the topical delivery of UA.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2011

The objective of the study was to prepare self-microeulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) incorporating atorvastatin calcium and evaluate its properties and oral bioavailability. Solubility of atorvastatin in various vehicles was determined. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to identify the good self-emulsification region. The droplet size distributions of the resultant emulsions were determined by dynamic light scattering measurement. The mean droplet size of chosen formulation (20% ethyl oleate, 40% tween-80, 40% Carbitol$^{(R)}$) was $23.4{\pm}1.3$ nm. The SMEDDS incorporating atorvastatin calcium appeared to be associated with better performance in dissolution and pharmacokinetic studies, compared with raw atorvastatin calcium. In dissolution test, the release percentage of atorvastatin from SMEDDS mixture could rapidly reach more than 95% within 3 min. Oral $AUC_{0{\rightarrow}8hr}$ values in SD rats was $1994{\pm}335\;ng{\cdot}hr/mL$, which significantly increased (P<0.05) compared with raw atorvastatin calcium. The SMEDDS formulation was relatively stable when stored at $4^{\circ}C$ during 3 months. Our studies illustrated the potential use of SMEDDS for the delivery of hydrophobic compounds, such as atorvastatin, by the oral route.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.373-380
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• 2008

In order to develop optimal formulation and iontophoresis condition for the transdermal delivery of levodopa, we have evaluated the effect of two permeation enhancers, ethanol and oleic acid in microemulsion, on transdermal delivery of levodopa. In vitro flux studies were performed at $33^{\circ}C$, using side-by-side diffusion cell and full thickness hairless mouse skin. Current density applied was $0.4\;mA/cm^2$ and current was off after 6 hours application. Levodopa was analysed by HPLC at 280 nm. The o/w microemulsions of oleic acid in buffer solution (pH 2.5 & 4.5) were prepared using oleic acid, Tween 80 and ethanol. The existence of microemulsion regions were investigated in pseudo-ternary phase diagrams. Contrary to our expectation, cumulative amount of levodopa transported from microemulsion (pH 2.5) for 10 hours was similar to that from aqueous solution in all delivery methods (passive, anodal and cathodal). When pH of the micro-emulsion was pH 4.5, cumulative amount of levodopa transported for 10 hours increased about 40% (anodal) to 50% (cathodal), when compared to that from aqueous solution. Flux from pH 4.5 microemulsion showed higher value than that from pH 2.5 in all delivery methods. These results seem to indicate that electroosmosis plays more dominant role than electrorepulsion in the flux of levodopa at pH 2.5. The effect of ethanol on iontophoretic flux was studied using pH 2.5 phosphate buffer solution containing 3% or 5% (v/v) ethanol. Flux enhancement was observed in passive and anodal delivery as the concentration of the ethanol increased. Without ethanol, cathodal delivery showed higher flux than anodal delivery. Anodal delivery increased the cumulative amount of levodopa transported 1.6 fold by 5% ethanol after 10 hours. However, in cathodal delivery, no flux enhancement of levodopa was observed during current application and only marginal increase in cumulative amount transported after 10 hours was observed by 5% ethanol. These results seem to be related to the decrease in dielectric constant of the medium and the lipid extraction of the ethanol, which decrease the electroosmotic flow, and thus decrease the flux. Overall, the results provide important insights into the role of electroosmosis and electrorepulsion in the transport of levodopa through skin, and provide some useful informations for optimal formulation for levodopa.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.502-510
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• 2021

The objective of this study was to develop a novel ticagrelor-loaded self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system with an enhanced solubility and dissolution rate. Numerous oils and surfactants were screened, then medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil and the surfactants polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and Labrafil M1944CS were selected for the preparation of the ticagrelor-loaded self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system. A pseudo-ternary phase diagram was constructed to detect the nanoemulsion region. Of the various formulations tested, the liquid SNEDDS, composed of MCT (oil), Tween 80 (surfactant), and Labrafil M1944CS (cosurfactant) at a weight ratio of 20/70/10 produced the smallest emulsion droplet size (around 20.56±0.70 nm). Then, particle size, polydispersity, and zeta potential were measured using drugs containing liquid SNEDDS. The selected ticagrelor-loaded liquid SNEDDS was spray-dried to convert it into a ticagrelor-loaded solid SNEDDS with a suitable inert carrier, such as silicon dioxide, calcium silicate, or magnesium aluminometasilicate. The solid SNEDDS was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and in vitro dissolution studies. SEM, PXRD, and DSC results suggested that amorphous ticagrelor was present in the solid SNEDDS. Also, the solid SNEDDS significantly increased the dissolution rate of ticagrelor. In particular, the emulsion particle size and the polydispersity index of the solid SNEDDS using silicon dioxide (SS1) as a carrier was the smallest among the evaluated solid SNEDDS, and the flowability and compressibility result of the SS1 was the most suitable for the manufacturing of solid dosage forms. Therefore, solid SNEDDS using silicon dioxide (SS1) could be a potential nano-sized drug delivery system for the poorly water-soluble drug ticagrelor.