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Supersaturated Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (Super-SNEDDS) Enhance the Bioavailability of the Poorly Water-Soluble Drug Simvastatin in Dogs

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Abstract

This study investigates the potential of supersaturated self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (super-SNEDDS) to improve the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs compared to conventional SNEDDS. Conventional SNEDDS contained simvastatin (SIM) at 75% of the equilibrium solubility (S eq). Super-SNEDDS containing SIM at 150 and 200% of S eq were produced by subjecting the SNEDDS preconcentrates to a heating and cooling cycle. The super-SNEDDS were physically stable over 10 months. During in vitro lipolysis of SNEDDS and super-SNEDDS the SIM concentration in the aqueous phase increased for the first 30 min almost proportional to the drug loads and amounts of preconcentrate employed. The 200% drug-loaded super-SNEDDS generated an amorphous SIM precipitate at the end of in vitro lipolysis. In vivo, the relative bioavailability of SIM from super-SEDDDS increased significantly to 180 ± 53.3% (p = 0.014) compared to the dosing of two capsules of (dose equivalent) 75% drug-loaded SNEDDS. A significant increase in the terminal half-life of elimination was observed for super-SNEDDS (2.3 ± 0.6 h) compared to conventional SNEDDS (1.4 ± 0.3 h) as well as a decreased area under the curve ratio of the SIM metabolite simvastatin acid to the parent compound (0.57 ± 0.20 and 0.90 ± 0.3), possibly due to a combination of saturation effects on presystemic metabolising enzymes and prolonged absorption along the small intestine. In summary, this study demonstrated that super-SNEDDS are a viable formulation option to enhance the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs such as simvastatin while reducing the pill burden by an increased drug load of SNEDDS.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the personnel in the animal facilities at H. Lundbeck A/S for their skilful handling of the animals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, 9054, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Nicky Thomas & Thomas Rades

  2. Preformulation, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500, Valby, Denmark

    René Holm

  3. Discovery ADME, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500, Valby, Denmark

    Mats Garmer & Jens Jakob Karlsson

  4. Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Anette Müllertz & Thomas Rades

  5. Bioneer: FARMA, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Anette Müllertz

  6. Department of Pharmaceutics and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Anette Müllertz

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  1. Nicky Thomas
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  2. René Holm
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  3. Mats Garmer
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  4. Jens Jakob Karlsson
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  5. Anette Müllertz
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  6. Thomas Rades
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Correspondence to Anette Müllertz.

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Thomas, N., Holm, R., Garmer, M. et al. Supersaturated Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (Super-SNEDDS) Enhance the Bioavailability of the Poorly Water-Soluble Drug Simvastatin in Dogs. AAPS J 15, 219–227 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1208/s12248-012-9433-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1208/s12248-012-9433-7

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