Development of an ethyl laurate-based microemulsion for rapid-onset intranasal delivery of diazepam

An ethyl laurate-based microemulsion system with Tween 80 as surfactant, propylene glycol and ethanol as cosolvents was developed for intranasal delivery of diazepam. Phase behavior and solubilization capacity of the microemulsion system were characterized and in vivo nasal absorption of diazepam from microemulsion formulations was investigated in rabbits. A single isotropic region, which is considered as a bicontinuous microemulsion, was found in the pseudo-ternary phase diagrams developed at various Tween 80: propylene glycol: ethanol ratios. With the increase of Tween 80 concentration, the microemulsion region area, microemulsion viscosity, and the amount of H(2)O and ethyl laurate solubilized into the microemulsion system increased; however, the increase of ethanol percentage produced opposite effects. Diazepam, a practically water-insoluble drug, displayed a high solubility of 41 mg/ml in a microemulsion consisting of 15% ethyl laurate, 15% H(2)O, and 70% (w/w) surfactant/cosurfactant (Tween 80:propylene glycol:ethanol at 1:1:1 weight ratio). Nasal absorption of diazepam from this microemulsion was found to be fairly rapid. At 2 mg/kg dose, the maximum drug plasma concentration was arrived within 2-3 min, and the bioavailability (0-2 h) after nasal spray compared with intravenous injection was about 50%. These results suggest that this ethyl laurate-based microemulsion may be a useful approach for the rapid-onset delivery of diazepam during the emergency treatment of status epilepticus.