The Science of Selecting Excipients for Dermal Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Formulation Science

Background:

• Self-emulsification improves oral drug delivery of poorly soluble drugs by enhancing solubility and bioavailability.
• Spontaneous emulsification offers a simplified topical drug delivery system for enhanced skin and mucus membrane penetration.
• Traditional views of excipients as inert are inadequate for designing effective self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDSs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review excipients for developing dermal SEDDSs and self-double-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SDEDDSs).
• To guide the selection of complementary excipient combinations for optimized drug delivery.
• To explore the use of natural excipients as thickening agents and skin penetration enhancers.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on excipient roles in SEDDSs and SDEDDSs.
• Analysis of excipient compatibility and self-emulsification properties.
• Examination of natural excipients for thickening and penetration enhancement.

Main Results:

• Excipient selection is critical for spontaneous emulsification and successful drug delivery via SEDDSs.
• Combinations of excipients must be carefully chosen to complement the drug's properties.
• Natural excipients show potential as functional ingredients in dermal SEDDSs and SDEDDSs.

Conclusions:

• Effective SEDDS and SDEDDS formulation relies heavily on judicious excipient selection.
• Understanding excipient-drug interactions is key to optimizing drug absorption and delivery.
• Natural excipients offer a promising avenue for developing advanced, potentially more sustainable, drug delivery systems.