DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF ZIPRASIDONE LOADED SOLID SELF-MICRO EMULSIFYING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

Solid self-micro emulsification technique is the new approach for poorly water-soluble and poorly bioavailable drugs by allowing the drug substance to be incorporated into the oil phase and thus having the ability to permeate the GI membrane to a faster extent. Oleic acid, Tween 80, methanol and colloidal silicon dioxide were used as penetrant, surfactant, co-surfactant and adsorbent, respectively. The interaction between drug and excipients was examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results of DSC and FTIR studies did not reveal any possible drug-excipient interactions. The conversion of liquid self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) into the solid SMEDDS increases the stability of the emulsion formulation achieved by physical adsorption of an adsorbent material. The release of drug from SMEDDS formulation is justified by in-vitro dissolution studies. SMEDDS increases the solubility of the drug and improves the bioavailability, without disturbing gastrointestinal transit. SMEDDS has the potential to provide a useful oral solid dosage form for the poorly water-soluble drug ziprasidone.