Title:Novel Self-micro Emulsifying Drug Delivery System for Safe Intramuscular Delivery with Improved Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics
Volume: 18
Issue: 10
Author(s): Subheet Kumar Jain*, Neha Panchal, Amrinder Singh, Shubham Thakur, Navid Reza Shahtaghi, Surbhi Sharma and Akshay Guleria
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005,India
Keywords:
Diclofenac sodium, SMEDDS, hemolysis analysis, acute and sub-acute toxicity, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, pharmacokinetics.
Abstract:
Background: Diclofenac Sodium (DS) injection is widely used in the management of
acute or chronic pain and inflammatory diseases. It incorporates 20% w/v Transcutol-P as a solubilizer
to make the stable injectable formulation. However, the use of Transcutol-P in high concentration
leads to adverse effects such as severe nephrotoxicity, etc. Some advancements have resulted
in the formulation of an aqueous-based injectable but that too used benzyl alcohol which is reported
to be toxic for human use.
Objective: This study aimed to develop an injectable Self-Micro Emulsifying Drug Delivery System
(SMEDDS) as a novel carrier of DS for prompt release with better safety and efficacy.
Methods: A solubility study was performed with different surfactants and co-surfactants. The conventional
stirring method was employed for the formulation of SMEDDS. Detailed in vitro characterization
was done for different quality control parameters. In vivo studies were performed using
Wistar rats for pharmacokinetic evaluation, toxicological analysis, and analgesic activity.
Results: The optimized formulation exhibited good physical stability, ideal globule size (156±0.4
nm), quick release, better therapeutics, and safety, increase in LD50 (221.9 mg/kg) to that of the
commercial counterpart (109.9 mg/kg). Furthermore, pre-treatment with optimized formulation reduced
the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema by 88±1.2% after 4 h, compared to 77±1.6% inhibition
with commercial DS formulation. Moreover, optimized formulation significantly (p<0.05) inhibited
the pain sensation in the acetic-acid induced writhing test in mice compared to its commercial
equivalent with a better pharmacokinetic profile.
Conclusion: The above findings confirmed that liquid SMEDDS can be a successful carrier for the
safe and effective delivery of DS.
