Design, characterization and pharmacokinetic studies of anti-Malarial drug Artemisinin by optimized self-emulsifying nano drug delivery system (SNEDDS)

Abstract

Owing to deprived hydrophilicity, Artemisinin (ART) is known as Class II biopharmaceutical (BCS). The goal of the existing endeavor is to formulate ART self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (ART-SNEDDS) that will increase its solubility in water. Thus, excipients were screened in pre-formulation experiments for solubility and emulsification effectiveness. Moreover, blends of the oil soy bean, surfactant tween 80 and co-surfactant soy lecithin were used to create pseudo ternary phase diagrams at different ratios. Further, the prepared ART-SNEDDS were evaluated visually, for thermodynamic stability, time to self nano-emulsify, the impact of dilution and pH, % transmittance, droplet size, poly dispersity index (PDI), surface morphology studies, zeta potential, in-vitro release rate, and for oral pharmacokinetic studies. The ART-SNEDDS were prepared to increase the quantity of loaded ART into the formulation. Nevertheless, in-vitro dissolution studies of the ART-SNEDDS formulation demonstrated an increased dissolution with improved solubility. It was found through oral bio-availability experiments in rats that there was an improvement in rate of absorption as well. As a result, a formulation to increase the drug’s solubility and perhaps bioavailability was developed.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Artemisinin (ART)
• SNEDDS
• solubility
• pseudo ternary phase diagram
• pharmacokinetics

Authors contribution

Sravani Karri: Concept, Experimental work, writing of manuscript, editing of the manuscript. Sanjay Sharma: Concept, editing, of the manuscript. Ginpreet Kaur: Concept, editing, of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.