Abstract
Conventional drug delivery systems are related with drug, carrier and the route of administration based limitations as compared to novel drug delivery systems. Presently, nanolipid based carriers are the most appropriate delivery systems for poorly soluble drugs to improve the solubility of drugs and eventually oral bioavailability. Polymeric nanoparticles face some inherent drawback owing to its chemical properties such as limited drug loading, poor stability on prolonged standing and toxicity related issues while chronic treatment. However, nanostructued lipid carriers are the second generation lipid nanoparticles composed of biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic and physiologically compatible lipids for oral administration. The system for lipophilic drugs is the excellent and offered several advantages over polymeric carriers. It is well known that lipophilic compound is more soluble in lipid and capable to deliver more significantly across the mucosal membrane through the oral route. This enhances oral bioavailability of these challengeable molecules with lipid based nanostructured lipid carrier as compared to conventional dosage form and others drug delivery system. This carrier employs lipid to incorporate drug (s) in high percent and toxicity concern are minimum in comparison to polymeric carriers. The present chapter aimed to explore the attempts and approaches in order to enhance the solubility of poorly aqueous soluble drug for improved oral BA along-with comparative study of toxicity issues related to drug and carrier in the light of literature reports including select instances of patents for providing an updated account to the pharmaceutical scientists working in the domain of nanostructured lipid carriers.
Keywords: Bioavailability, hydrophobic drugs, nanostructured lipid carrier.