FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF SELF-NANOEMULSIFYING POWDER OF EZETIMIBE

Ezetimibe (EZT) is the selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor. It is indicated for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia. The current investigation was aimed to formulation and evaluation of self nanoemulsifying powder (SNEP) for EZT to enhance solubility and dissolution rate and this will leads to minimize the variability in absorption. Solubility of drug was determined in different vehicles. Pseudo ternary phase diagram generated using Acrysol EL 135, Tween 80 and Trancutol P. The SNEP was prepared by adsorbing the optimized liquid SNEDDS on to Fujicalin as carrier. The SNEP characterized by micromeritic properties, differential scanning studies, percentage transmittance, emulsification time and zeta potential. The optimized formulation had shown the smallest particle size, less emulsification time, good %transmittance and good in vitro release. The in vitro dissolution rate and ex vivo permeation rate of the drug from the SNEP was significantly higher than that of the plain drug and its suspension respectively.