Self Emulsifying Drug Delivery System: A Tool in Solubility Enhancement of Poorly Soluble Drugs

Abstract

Low aqueous solubility and thereby low oral bioavailability is a major concern for formulation scientist as many recent drugs are lipophillic in nature and their lower solubility and dissolution is a major drawback for their successful formulation into oral dosage forms. Aqueous solubility of drugs can be increased by different methods such as salt formation, solid dispersion, complex formation but Self Emulsifying Drug Delivery System (SEDDS) is gaining more attention for improving the solubility of lipophillic drugs. SEDDS are ideally isotropic mixtures of drug, oil, surfactant and/or co surfactant. They spontaneously form emulsion on mixing with water with little or no energy input. Generally SEDDS are prepared using triglycerides and non ionic surfactants. The present review provides an updated account of the advancements in SEDDS with regard to the selection of lipid systems for current formulations, dosage forms for SEDDS, solidification techniques, characterization and their applications. © 2011 IGJPS. All rights reserved