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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Self-Nanoemulsification of Healthy Oils to Enhance the Solubility of Lipophilic Drugs
Published on: July 27, 2022
Formulation and intestinal absorption enhancement evaluation of water-in-oil microemulsions incorporating
P P Constantinides1, J P Scalart, C Lancaster
1Department of Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Technologies, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406-0939.
Abstract:
We developed self-emulsifying water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsions incorporating medium-chain glycerides and measured their conductance, viscosity, refractive index and particle size. Formulation of Calcein (a water-soluble marker molecule, MW = 623), or SK&F 106760 (a water-soluble RGD peptide, MW = 634) in a w/o microemulsion having a composition of Captex 355/Capmul MCM/Tween 80/Aqueous (65/22/10/3, % w/w), resulted in significant bioavailability enhancement in rats relative to their aqueous formulations. Upon intraduodenal administration the bioavailability was enhanced from 2% for Calcein in isotonic Tris, pH 7.4 to 45% in the microemulsion and from 0.5% for SK&F 106760 in physiological saline to 27% in the microemulsion formulation. The microemulsion did not induce gross changes in GI mucosa at a dosing volume of 3.3 ml/kg. These results suggest that water-in-oil microemulsion systems may be utilized for enhancement of intestinal drug absorption.
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