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Formulation and in vitro evaluation of meloxicam as a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system

Saja Abdulkareem Muhammed1, Khalid Kadhem Al-Kinani1

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Baghdad Governorate, Iraq.

F1000Research
|June 26, 2023
PubMed

Insights

This study developed a liquid self-microemulsifying drug delivery system to enhance meloxicam (MLX) dispersibility and stability. The optimized formulation demonstrated superior drug release and stability, offering a practical solution for MLX delivery.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Meloxicam (MLX), an oxicam NSAID, exhibits poor water solubility, limiting its therapeutic efficacy.
  • Improving the dispersibility and stability of poorly soluble drugs like MLX is crucial for effective drug delivery.
  • Liquid self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) offer a promising approach to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To formulate and characterize a liquid self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) for meloxicam (MLX).
  • To enhance the dispersibility and stability of meloxicam by utilizing a novel SMEDDS formulation.
  • To evaluate the physicochemical properties and in vitro performance of the optimized MLX-loaded SMEDDS.

Main Methods:

  • Development of five different liquid SMEDDS formulations by varying concentrations of propylene glycol, Transcutol P, Tween 80, and oleic acid.
  • Construction of a pseudo-ternary phase diagram to identify the microemulsion region.
  • Evaluation of formulations for thermodynamic stability, droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, drug content, dispersibility, and in vitro drug release.

Main Results:

  • The optimal formulation (F5) exhibited high drug content (99.8%) and excellent in vitro release (100% within 40 min).
  • F5 demonstrated a small droplet size (63 nm), low PDI (0.3), and high stability, indicated by a zeta potential of -81 mV.
  • The developed SMEDDS formulation showed good thermodynamic stability and resistance to dilution.

Conclusions:

  • Liquid self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems are highly effective for improving the dispersibility and stability of meloxicam.
  • The optimized SMEDDS formulation provides a viable and practical approach for enhancing the delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs like MLX.
  • This study highlights the potential of SMEDDS to overcome solubility challenges and improve the therapeutic outcomes of existing medications.
Keywords:
Dissolution rateMeloxicamPseudo-ternary phase diagramSMEDDS

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