LIPID MICROEMULSIONS FOR IMPROVING DRUG DISSOLUTION AND ORAL ABSORPTION - PHYSICAL AND BIOPHARMACEUTICAL ASPECTS

Purpose. This review highlights the state-of-the-art in pharmaceutical microemulsions with emphasis on self-emulsifying systems, from both a physical and biopharmaceutical perspective. Although these systems ha ve several pharmaceutical applications, this review is primarily focus ed on their potential for oral drug delivery and intestinal absorption improvement. Methods. Physicochemical characteristics and formulation design based on drug solubility and membrane permeability are discuss ed. Results. Case studies in which lipid microemulsions have successfu lly been used to improve drug solubilization/dissolution and/or intest inal absorption of poorly absorbed drugs/peptides are presented. Concl usions. Drug development issues such as commercial viability, mechanis ms involved, range of applicability, safety, scale-up and manufacture are outlined, and future research and development efforts to address t hese issues are discussed.