Effects of spray-drying and choice of solid carriers on concentrations of Labrasol® and Transcutol® in solid self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS)

Molecules. 2013 Jan 2;18(1):545-60. doi: 10.3390/molecules18010545.

Abstract

Solid self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) have been used increasingly for improving the bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs. Labrasol® and Transcutol® are used widely as surfactant and solubilizer in the formulation of solid SMEDDS. We investigated the effects of spray-drying and the use of different solid carriers on concentrations of Labrasol® and Transcutol® in solid SMEDDS with scutellarin as the formulated drug. Liquid and gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS and GC-MS) methods were developed for measuring low concentrations of Labrasol® and Transcutol®. In the preparation of solid SMEDDS, lactose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were used as solid carriers. Judging from the retention ratios of Labrasol® and Transcutol®, the droplet size of solid SMEDDS increased after spray-drying of liquid SMEDDS, and concentrations of these excipients decreased after the solidifying procedure. In such reduction, Lactose and HPMC were found to preserve Labrasol® and Transcutol® better than MCC during spray-drying, and the resultant droplet sizes were smaller than that of MCC. Labrasol® and Transcutol® showed good thermal stability at 60 °C degree for 10 days. It can be concluded that spray-drying could increase the droplet size of solid SMEDDS and decreased the concentration of Labrasol® and Transcutol® therein, while water-soluble solid carriers could preserve Labrasol® and Transcutol® better than insoluble carriers in the solid SMEDDS.

MeSH terms

  • Apigenin / chemistry*
  • Cellulose / chemistry
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical
  • Desiccation
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Compounding / methods
  • Drug Stability
  • Emulsifying Agents / chemistry*
  • Emulsions / chemistry
  • Ethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Excipients / chemistry
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / standards
  • Glucuronates / chemistry*
  • Glycerides
  • Hypromellose Derivatives
  • Lactose / chemistry
  • Methylcellulose / analogs & derivatives
  • Methylcellulose / chemistry
  • Organic Chemicals / chemistry
  • Particle Size
  • Reference Standards
  • Solubility
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / standards

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Emulsifying Agents
  • Emulsions
  • Ethylene Glycols
  • Excipients
  • Glucuronates
  • Glycerides
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Labrasol
  • scutellarin
  • Hypromellose Derivatives
  • Apigenin
  • Cellulose
  • Methylcellulose
  • carbitol
  • Lactose
  • microcrystalline cellulose