Semisolid self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDSs): Effects on pharmacokinetics of acyclovir in rats

Semisolid self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) with optimized drug loading capacity, stability, dispersibility in aqueous media and in vitro drug release profile, was evaluated in vivo regarding effects on pharmacokinetics of acyclovir, an antiviral with low bioavailability (BA) and short half-life (t_1/2). Additional goal of this study was evaluation of safety of this semisolid SMEDDS consisted of medium chain length triglycerides (oil) (10% w/w), macrogolglycerol hydroxystearate (surfactant) (56.25% w/w), polyglyceryl-3-dioleate (cosurfactant) (6.25% w/w), glycerol (cosolvent) (20% w/w), macrogol 8000 (viscosity modifier) (7.5% w/w), and acyclovir (2.5 mg/ml). The study was performed on fully mature white male Wistar rats. The pharmacokinetics of acyclovir was monitored in three groups (1-3) of animals after administration of drug solution (intravenously (IV)), drug suspension (orally) and semisolid SMEDDS (orally), respectively. The determined pharmacokinetic parameters were: maximum concentration of acyclovir in serum (C_max), time taken to reach C_max (T_max), areas under time-concentration curves (AUC_0-t and AUC_0-∞), terminal elimination rate constant (k_el), t_1/2, volume of distribution (V_d), mean residence time (MRT), clearance (Cl), zero concentration (C₀), steady state volume of distribution (V_ss), and BA. Additionally, for safety evaluation, animals were treated orally with aqueous solution of acyclovir, drug-free semisolid SMEDDS and acyclovir-loaded semisolid SMEDDS, during 21 days (groups 4-7). Serum samples of sacrificed animals were used for biochemical analysis of enzymatic activity of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), urea, creatinine, and uric acid. Acyclovir administered by semisolid SMEDDS reached twice higher C_max (0.92 ± 0.21 μg/ml) and has significantly shorter T_max (14 ± 10.84 min) compared to the suspension of acyclovir (C_max 0.29 ± 0.09 μg/ml and T_max 26.00 ± 5.48 min). BA of the drug was significantly increased by semisolid SMEDDS, while the analysis of biochemical parameters excluded damage on function of liver and kidneys caused by the investigated drug delivery system.