Preparation of submicron drug particles in lecithin-stabilized o/w emulsions

A critical review on the particle generation and other applications of rapid expansion of supercritical solution

The novel particle generation processes of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API)/drug have been extensively explored in recent decades due to their wide-range applications in the pharmaceutical industry. The Rapid Expansion of Supercritical Solutions (RESS) is one of the promising techniques to obtain the fine particles (micro to nano-size) of APIs with narrow particle size distribution (PSD). In RESS, supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO₂) and API are used as solvent and solute respectively. In this literature survey, the application of RESS in the formation of fine particles is critically reviewed. Solubility of API in SC CO₂ and supersaturation are the key factors in tuning the particle size. The different approaches to model and predict the solubility of API in SC CO₂ are discussed. Then, the effect of process parameters on mean particle size and the particle size distribution are interpreted in the context of solubility and supersaturation. Furthermore, the less-explored applications of RESS in preparation of solid-lipid nanoparticles, liposome, polymorphic conversion, cocrystallization and inclusion complexation are compared with traditional processes. The solubility enhancement of API in SC CO₂ using co-solvent and its applications in particle generation are explored in published literature. The development and modifications in the conventional RESS process to overcome the limitations of RESS are presented. Finally, the perspective on RESS with special attention to its commercial operation is highlighted.

Formation of Food Grade Microemulsion with Rice Glycosphingolipids to Enhance the Oral Absorption of Coenzyme Q10

The purpose of this study is to examine the possible use of rice glycosphingolipids (RGSLs) as an emulsifier to form food grade microemulsions (mean particle size, 10-20 nm) and improve the absorption of CoQ10 with a poor solubility property by prepared emulsion. Because RGSLs could act as an auxiliary emulsifying agent, its addition to the surfactant/oil mixture decreased the emulsion's particle size. This suggests that RGSLs exist between the water and oil phases to decrease oil droplet size via reduced interfacial tension. CoQ10-loaded microemulsion was also successfully prepared with RGSLs and powdered after freeze-drying with a cryoprotectant. CoQ10's solubility in freeze-dried particles was dramatically improved compared to that of CoQ10 powder. Moreover, oral absorption of CoQ10 was significantly enhanced when administered via CoQ10-loaded microemulsion. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve for the microemulsion improved up to seven-fold compared to CoQ10 powder. The use of RGSLs could, therefore, be an effective processing technique for improving CoQ10's solubility and absorption.

Lipid-Based Drug Delivery Systems in Cancer Therapy: What Is Available and What Is Yet to Come

Cancer is a leading cause of death in many countries around the world. However, the efficacy of current standard treatments for a variety of cancers is suboptimal. First, most cancer treatments lack specificity, meaning that these treatments affect both cancer cells and their normal counterparts. Second, many anticancer agents are highly toxic, and thus, limit their use in treatment. Third, a number of cytotoxic chemotherapeutics are highly hydrophobic, which limits their utility in cancer therapy. Finally, many chemotherapeutic agents exhibit short half-lives that curtail their efficacy. As a result of these deficiencies, many current treatments lead to side effects, noncompliance, and patient inconvenience due to difficulties in administration. However, the application of nanotechnology has led to the development of effective nanosized drug delivery systems known commonly as nanoparticles. Among these delivery systems, lipid-based nanoparticles, particularly liposomes, have shown to be quite effective at exhibiting the ability to: 1) improve the selectivity of cancer chemotherapeutic agents; 2) lower the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs to normal tissues, and thus, reduce their toxic side effects; 3) increase the solubility of hydrophobic drugs; and 4) offer a prolonged and controlled release of agents. This review will discuss the current state of lipid-based nanoparticle research, including the development of liposomes for cancer therapy, different strategies for tumor targeting, liposomal formulation of various anticancer drugs that are commercially available, recent progress in liposome technology for the treatment of cancer, and the next generation of lipid-based nanoparticles.

Some pertinent factors in skin care emulsion

Emulsion structures are reviewed with special consideration given to the conditions in emulsions for topical applications with more phases than the traditional two liquids. The fundamentals of emulsions containing liquid crystals and vesicles are described, focussing on the dependence of the volume ratios of liquid crystals and vesicles on the surfactant content.