Immediate release of ibuprofen from Fujicalin®-based fast-dissolving self-emulsifying tablets

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Solid Dosage Forms

Background:

• Drug release from solid self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) is often hindered by carrier interactions.
• Investigating acid-soluble carriers like Fujicalin(®) to improve drug release from solid SEDDS in the stomach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop immediate-release self-emulsifying tablets (IR-SETs) of ibuprofen (IBU).
• To achieve rapid IBU release from solid SEDDS, comparable to liquid formulations.
• To evaluate Fujicalin(®) as a powderizing carrier for enhanced drug dissolution.

Main Methods:

• Prepared solidified SEDDS of IBU using various adsorbents, including Fujicalin(®).
• Formulated immediate-release self-emulsifying tablets (IR-SETs) via direct compression.
• Evaluated IBU release rates in simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) and analyzed microemulsion droplet sizes.

Main Results:

• Fujicalin(®)-based SEDDS tablets exhibited significantly higher IBU dissolution rates than those with Neusilin(®) or Neosyl(®).
• An optimized IR-SET formula released over 90% of IBU within 5 minutes at pH 1.2.
• The release rate from IR-SETs closely matched that of liquid SEDDS, with comparable microemulsion droplet sizes.

Conclusions:

• A novel immediate-release self-emulsifying tablet (IR-SET) formulation was successfully developed.
• This IR-SET offers rapid drug release, potentially enabling faster onset of action for ibuprofen.
• Fujicalin(®) is an effective carrier for creating fast-dissolving SEDDS tablets.