Solubilization and Controlled Release Strategy of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs 2024

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmaceutical Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 November 2024) | Viewed by 3245

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Departamento Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28871 Madrid, Spain
Interests: drug formulation; pharmaceutical technology; formulation development and characterization
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The processes of solubilization and controlled release of drugs that are not very soluble in water are of great relevance to the pre-formulation of drugs in pharmaceutical developments.

In recent years, a large number of drugs have been industrialized, but almost 70% of them have low solubility in water, which limits their dissolution rate and, consequently, their bioavailability. Undoubtedly, it is a problem with far-reaching repercussions for the pharmaceutical industry, so the discovery of new technological tools for the hydrosolubilization of drugs that do not affect their physical–chemical and therapeutic properties will constitute an extraordinary achievement.

On the other hand, from a pharmacological point of view, the search for knowledge about the interaction mechanism and the different properties of drug-controlled release systems is currently of great importance in drug formulation, especially in relation to their efficacy therapy, as well as achieving the correct amount of active ingredient, the right time and the precise place of action.

This Special Issue is dedicated to the latest advances in solubilization and controlled release processes for poorly soluble drugs. We invite authors to submit original research or review articles on these topics, including the development of novel solubilization strategies, as well as innovative alternative methods to obtain new controlled-release pharmaceutical forms, suitable for a specific patient and the pathology to be treated, without forgetting the best form of administration to obtain the optimal efficacy and safety of the drugs.

Prof. Dr. María Ángeles Peña Fernández
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • drug formulation
  • solubilization
  • controlled release systems
  • solubility
  • poor water-soluble drugs

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 529 KiB  
Article
Dissolution Thermodynamics of the Solubility of Sulfamethazine in (Acetonitrile + 1-Propanol) Mixtures
by Daniel Ricardo Delgado, Jennifer Katiusca Castro-Camacho, Claudia Patricia Ortiz, Diego Ivan Caviedes-Rubio and Fleming Martinez
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(12), 1594; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17121594 - 26 Nov 2024
Viewed by 270
Abstract
Background: Solubility is one of the most important parameters in the research and development processes of the pharmaceutical industry. In this context, cosolubility is one of the most used strategies to improve the solubility of poorly soluble drugs, besides allowing to identify [...] Read more.
Background: Solubility is one of the most important parameters in the research and development processes of the pharmaceutical industry. In this context, cosolubility is one of the most used strategies to improve the solubility of poorly soluble drugs, besides allowing to identify some factors involved in the dissolution process. The aim of this research is to evaluate the solubility of sulfamethazine in acetotinitrile + 1-propanol cosolvent mixtures at 9 temperatures (278.15, 283.15, 288.15, 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, 313.15, and 318.15 K); a drug used in human and veterinary therapy and two solvents of great chemical–pharmaceutical interest. Methods: The determination was carried out by the shaking flask method and the drug was quantified by UV/Vis spectrophotometry. Results: The solubility of sulfamethazine increases from pure 1-propanol (solvent in which it reaches its lowest solubility at 278.15 K) to pure acetonitrile (solvent in which it reaches its maximum solubility at 318.15 K), behaving in a logarithmic-linear fashion. Conclusions: The increase in solubility is related to the acid/base character of the cosolvent mixtures and not to the solubility parameter of the mixtures. The dissolution process is endothermic and favored by the solution entropy, and also shows a strong entropic compensation. Full article
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40 pages, 6268 KiB  
Article
Exploring Deep Eutectic Solvents as Pharmaceutical Excipients: Enhancing the Solubility of Ibuprofen and Mefenamic Acid
by Mihaela-Alexandra Nica, Valentina Anuța, Cristian Andi Nicolae, Lăcrămioara Popa, Mihaela Violeta Ghica, Florentina-Iuliana Cocoș and Cristina-Elena Dinu-Pîrvu
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(10), 1316; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17101316 - 2 Oct 2024
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Abstract
Objectives: The study explores the potential of various deep eutectic solvents (DESs) to serve as drug delivery systems and pharmaceutical excipients. The research focuses on two primary objectives: evaluating the ability of the selected DES systems to enhance the solubility of two [...] Read more.
Objectives: The study explores the potential of various deep eutectic solvents (DESs) to serve as drug delivery systems and pharmaceutical excipients. The research focuses on two primary objectives: evaluating the ability of the selected DES systems to enhance the solubility of two poorly water-soluble model drugs (IBU and MFA), and evaluating their physicochemical properties, including density, viscosity, flow behavior, surface tension, thermal stability, and water dilution effects, to determine their suitability for pharmaceutical applications. Methods: A range of DES systems containing pharmaceutically acceptable constituents was explored, encompassing organic acid-based, sugar- and sugar alcohol-based, and hydrophobic systems, as well as menthol (MNT)-based DES systems with common pharmaceutical excipients. MNT-based DESs exhibited the most significant solubility enhancements. Results: IBU solubility reached 379.69 mg/g in MNT: PEG 400 (1:1) and 356.3 mg/g in MNT:oleic acid (1:1), while MFA solubility peaked at 17.07 mg/g in MNT:Miglyol 812®N (1:1). In contrast, solubility in hydrophilic DES systems was significantly lower, with choline chloride: glycerol (1:2) and arginine: glycolic acid (1:8) showing the best results. While demonstrating lower solubility compared to the MNT-based systems, sugar-based DESs exhibited increased tunability via water and glycerol addition both in terms of solubility and physicochemical properties, such as viscosity and surface tension. Conclusions: Our study introduces novel DES systems, expanding the repertoire of pharmaceutically acceptable DES formulations and opening new avenues for the rational design of tailored solvent systems to overcome solubility challenges and enhance drug delivery. Full article
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18 pages, 3024 KiB  
Article
Solid Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems of Furosemide: In Vivo Proof of Concept for Enhanced Predictable Therapeutic Response
by Sania Gul, Sathvik Belagodu Sridhar, Aamir Jalil, Muhammad Akhlaq, Muhammad Sohail Arshad, Hafiz Shoaib Sarwar, Faisal Usman, Javedh Shareef and Sabin Thomas
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(4), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17040500 - 14 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1599
Abstract
Liquid self-nano emulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) of furosemide (FSM) have been explored as a potential solution for enhancing solubility and permeability but are associated with rapid emulsification, spontaneous drug release, and poor in vivo correlation. To overcome the shortcoming, this study aimed [...] Read more.
Liquid self-nano emulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) of furosemide (FSM) have been explored as a potential solution for enhancing solubility and permeability but are associated with rapid emulsification, spontaneous drug release, and poor in vivo correlation. To overcome the shortcoming, this study aimed to develop liquid and solid self-emulsifying drug delivery systems for FSM, compare formulation dynamics, continue in vivo therapeutic efficacy, and investigate the advantages of solidification. For this purpose, liquid SNEDDS (L-SEDDS-FSM) were formed using oleic acid as an oil, chremophore EL, Tween 80, Tween 20 as a surfactant, and PEG 400 as a co-surfactant containing 53 mg/mL FSM. At the same time, solid SNEDDS (S-SEDDS-FSM) was developed by adsorbing liquid SNEDDS onto microcrystalline cellulose in a 1:1 ratio. Both formulations were evaluated for size, zeta potential, lipase degradation, and drug release. Moreover, in vivo diuretic studies regarding urine volume were carried out in mice to investigate the therapeutic responses of liquid and solid SNEDDS formulations. After dilution, L-SEDDS-FSM showed a mean droplet size of 115 ± 4.5 nm, while S-SEDDS-FSM depicted 116 ± 2.6 nm and zeta potentials of −5.4 ± 0.55 and −6.22 ± 1.2, respectively. S-SEDDS-FSM showed 1.8-fold reduced degradation by lipase enzymes in comparison to L-SEDDS-FSM. S-SEDDS-FSM demonstrated a sustained drug release pattern, releasing 63% of the drug over 180 min, in contrast to L-SEDDS-FSM, exhibiting 90% spontaneous drug release within 30 min. L-SEDDS-FSM exhibited a rapid upsurge in urine output (1550 ± 56 μL) compared to S-SEDDS-FSM, showing gradual urine output (969 ± 29 μL) till the 4th h of the study, providing sustained urine output yet a predictable therapeutic response. The solidification of SNEDDS effectively addresses challenges associated with spontaneous drug release and precipitation observed in liquid SNEDDS, highlighting the potential benefits of solid SNEDDS in improving the therapeutic response of furosemide. Full article
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