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Updated: Jul 27, 2025

Self-Nanoemulsification of Healthy Oils to Enhance the Solubility of Lipophilic Drugs
Published on: July 27, 2022
Self-micro Emulsifying Drug Delivery via Intestinal Lymphatics: A Lucrative Approach to Drug Targeting
Darshan Petkar Ramachandra1, Preethi Sudheer1
1Department of Pharmaceutics, Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
The intestinal lymphatics are considered one of the most specialized pathways, which promote the absorption of various agents such as vitamins, lipids, xenobiotics, and lipophilic substances. The intestinal lymphatics have provided various advantages like bypassing first-pass effects, and improved bioavailability. The oral delivery of poor hydrophilic drugs can be improved by employing a lipid-based formulation strategy. Self-micro emulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) are one of the vivacious strategies based on lipid-based drug delivery that have shown their effects by improving the solubility and bioavailability of the therapeutic agents. This review is an insight into the functions, targets, mechanisms, and carriers involved in intestinal lymphatics. Also, the review illustrates the types, formulation requirements, and mechanism of action of SMEDDS in detail. In addition, it describes the targeting, types, physicochemical properties, biological barriers, and benefits of lymphatic targeting in therapy. Finally, the marketed formulations and future aspects of SMEDDS formulations are addressed.
The intestinal lymphatics are considered one of the most specialized pathways, which promote the absorption of various agents such as vitamins, lipids, xenobiotics, and lipophilic substances. The intestinal lymphatics have provided various advantages like bypassing first-pass effects, and improved bioavailability. The oral delivery of poor hydrophilic drugs can be improved by employing a lipid-based formulation strategy. Self-micro emulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) are one of the vivacious strategies based on lipid-based drug delivery that have shown their effects by improving the solubility and bioavailability of the therapeutic agents. This review is an insight into the functions, targets, mechanisms, and carriers involved in intestinal lymphatics. Also, the review illustrates the types, formulation requirements, and mechanism of action of SMEDDS in detail. In addition, it describes the targeting, types, physicochemical properties, biological barriers, and benefits of lymphatic targeting in therapy. Finally, the marketed formulations and future aspects of SMEDDS formulations are addressed.
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