A Novel Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System Based on a Homolipid from Capra Hircus for the Delivery of Indomethacin

Abstract

The dissolution of hydrophobic drugs, of which indomethacin is an example, in body fluids is a limiting step in its bioavailability. The objective of this study, therefore, was to improve the aqueous solubility of indomethacin through the development of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) based on blends of a homolipid from Capra hircus with either oil bean seed oil or shea butter, which occur abundantly in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The oleaginous materials were extracted and purified by standard methods. After stability-indicating preformulation isotropicity tests, suitable quantities of lipid blends, surfactant blend (1:1 Tween 60 and Tween 80) and cosurfactant (Span 85) were mixed together in a beaker maintained at 50 °C to form a homogenous dispersion. The SNEDDS were assessed using the following parameters: isotropicity test, aqueous dilution stability and precipitation propensity, absolute drug content, emulsification time, in vitro release performance and anti-inflammatory activity. All the formulations of the SNEDDS exhibited low precipitation propensity and excellent stability on extensive aqueous dilution, as well as high anti-inflammatory activity in rats relative to the positive control. The absolute drug contents and emulsification times all fell within narrow limits. These results may indicate that blends of homolipid from Capra hircus with either oil bean seed oil or, particularly, shea butter could confer favourable properties with respect to drug release and anti-inflammatory activity on SNEDDS for the delivery of indomethacin.

Keywords: Self-nanoemulfsifying drug delivery systems, indomethacin, Capra hircus, homolipid, shea butter, oil bean seed oil

Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, Vol. 8 No 1 pp. 162 - 173 (September 2010)