Title:Self Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System of Sorafenib Tosylate: Development and <i>In Vivo</i> Studies
VOLUME: 8 ISSUE: 6
Author(s):Pamu Sandhya*, Pamu Poornima and Darna V.R.N. Bhikshapathi
Affiliation:Department of Pharmaceutics, Shadan Women’s College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad, Telangana, Department of Pharmaceutics, Mallareddy Pharmacy College, Secunderabad, Telangana, Department of Pharmaceutics, Teegala Ram Reddy College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad, Telangana
Keywords:Bioavailability studies, pseudoternary phase diagram, SNEDDS, solubility, sorafenib tosylate,
acrysol EL 135.
Abstract:
Background: Sorafenib tosylate (SFN) belongs to the BCS class II drug with low solubility
and undergoes first-pass metabolism, which leads to reduced bioavailability of 38%.
Objective: The present study aimed at developing SFN SNEDDS to improve their solubility and bioavailability.
Methods: Preliminary solubility studies were performed to identify oil, surfactant, and co-surfactant
ratios. Pseudo tertiary phase diagram was constructed to select the areas of nanoemulsion based on
the monophasic region. A total of 15 formulations of SFN SNEDDS were prepared and screened for
phase separation and temperature variation using thermodynamic stability studies. These SNEDDS
further characterized for % transmission, content of the drug, and in vitro dissolution analysis. The
optimized formulation was analyzed for particle size, Z average, entrapment efficiency, and SEM
analysis.
Results: Based on the pseudo tertiary phase diagram, acrysol EL 135, kolliphor, and transcutol-P as
oil, surfactant, and co-surfactant were selected, respectively. All the formulations were stable with no
phase separation and maximum % transmittance of 98.92%. The formulation F15 was selected as an
optimized one, based on maximum drug content of 99.89%, with 98.94% drug release within 1 hour
and it will be stable for 6 months. From in vivo bioavailability studies, the Cmax of optimized
SNEDDS (94.12±2.12ng/ml) is higher than pure SFN suspension (15.32±1.46 ng/ml) and the AUC0-∞
of optimized SNEDDS is also increased by 5 times (512.1±8.54 ng.h/ml) than pure drug
(98.75±6.45ng.h/ml), which indicates improved bioavailability of the formulation.
Conclusion: SFN loaded SNEDDS could potentially be exploited as a delivery system for improving
oral bioavailability by minimizing first-pass metabolism and increased solubility.
Lay Summary: Renal cell carcinoma accounts for 2% of global cancer diagnoses and deaths, it has
more than doubled in incidence in the developed world over the past half-century, and today is the
ninth most common neoplasm in the United States. Sorafenib is a protein kinase inhibitor indicated
as a treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma. The present study aimed at developing Sorafenib
SNEDDS to improve their solubility and bioavailability. A total of 15 formulations of Sorafenib
SNEDDS were prepared and screened for phase separation and temperature variation using thermodynamic
stability studies. Sorafenib loaded SNEDDS could potentially be exploited as a delivery
system for increased oral bioavailability by 5 times when comparing with pure drug by minimizing
first-pass metabolism and increased solubility.
