Lipid Nanoformulations for Oral Delivery of Bioactives: an Overview
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Send Orders for Reprints to [email protected] Current Drug Therapy, 2014, 9, 35-46 35 Lipid Nanoformulations for Oral Delivery of Bioactives: An Overview Ranjana Gupta1, Anant Agrawal1, Md. Meraj Anjum2, Harinath Dwivedi1, Koshy M. Kymonil1 2, and Shubhini A. Saraf * 1Faculty of Pharmacy, Babu Banarasi Das National Institute of Technology and Management, Lucknow, India; 2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, India Abstract: Oral drug delivery has always been considered the preferred route of drug administration. Nano-formulations are now constantly being researched for better absorption, higher bioavailability and greater therapeutic efficacy. Lipid based nanoformulations have found much favour with the formulation scientist due to their relatively higher safety profile and enhancement of bioavailability. These delivery systems are also able to protect the bioactives or drugs from the vagaries of the gastrointestinal tract. They also aid in the absorption of hydrophobic drugs which are entrapped in lipid matrices. Lipid excipients have been known to reduce efflux which is P-glycoprotein mediated and also to increase the bioavailability of bioactives which are given through the oral route. In the last 20 years, about a thousand articles and reviews about oral lipid carriers have been reported. Many dosage forms have been made by modifying liposome, sometimes to overcome a disadvantage and at other times to modify the dosage form in such a manner so as to suit the requirement of the drug molecules. Various other lipidic drug delivery systems also exist which are not vesicular but being made of lipids, are equally useful for delivering lipophilic drugs. Although a Lipid Formulation Classification System exists, but there is no exhaustive review which discusses the entire lipid based, oral nanoformulations. The present review envisages discussing the various types of oral, lipid, nanosized, delivery systems available, so that an insight is gained into all these carriers, and the formulation scientist can make a judicious decision regarding choice of a lipid based carrier. Keywords: Drug delivery, lipoidal, lipophilic, nanoparticles, vesicular. INTRODUCTION Lipid excipients have been known to reducePgp-mediated efflux and also to increase bioavailability of orally administered Lipid-based drug delivery systems (LBDDS) have bioactives. been established for the enhancement of bioavailability of highly lipophilic drugs. LBDDS are composed of lipids Huge strides have been taken in the field of lipid drug (solid lipid or liquid lipid), surfactants/co-surfactants, and delivery since its inception in 1965, to deliver drugs [7], solvents. The formulation scientist makes a decision protein, peptide and even gene delivery [8]. Liposomes were regarding choice of the excipients based on the desired first discovered by A.D. Bangham in the early 1960s [9, 10]. physical, chemical and biological properties required from Any formulation can be called successfully only when it the formulation [1, 2]. Excipients used for lipid based oral gains commercial importance and is marketed. A number of formulation have been extensively reviewed [3-5]. When liposomal formulations are available in the market with certain suitable changes are made to the reaction / process many of them in the clinical trials stage [11]. As compared to conditions like changes in temperature / pressure / pH the the non-vesicular systems, lipoidal vesicular systems such as lipidic excipients self-organize in different supramolecular ethosomes and invasomes can significantly improve the arrangements. The lipid bilayer structure which encases an topical delivery of water soluble drugs [12]. The potential of aqueous environment within it is called a vesicle or sac and lipidic drug delivery has not been fully realized due to is one of the most researched about drug delivery systems several drawbacks. Some of them are, low lipophilic drug [6]. loading capacity, burst release kinetics, degradation in low pH conditions and due to the action of sodium taurocholate, When administered orally, lipid based delivery is various types of lipases and so on [13,14]. advantageous as lipophilic drugs are solubilized in a lipid which could often be physiologically easily transported and These are the shortcomings of lipoidal delivery systems, absorbed through the intestine. These delivery systems are but can be overcome and can also be used to advantage, also able to protect the bioactives or drugs from the vagaries when the above mentioned phenomena are properly of the gastrointestinal tract. They also aid in the absorption understood and are used for better absorptivity of drugs [15]. of hydrophobic drugs which are entrapped in lipid matrices. A major disadvantage of liposomes for parenteral delivery is their inherent chemical and physical instability. *Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Pharmaceutical To overcome the drawbacks of liposomes, various kinds of Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, India; lipoidal carriers and modified liposomes have been Tel: +91 522 2998129; E-mail: [email protected] developed as carriers (Fig. 1). For the improvement of 2212-3903/14 $58.00+.00 ©2014 Bentham Science Publishers 36 Current Drug Therapy, 2014, Vol. 9, No. 1 Gupta et al. Fig. (1). Schematics of different types of oral lipid based carriers for drug delivery. stability, aspasomes were prepared using ascorbyl palmitate visualized as small droplets of water being protected from [16], to enhance the permeation of drug by transdermal coalescing with the neighboring similar structure due to the delivery ethosomes were prepared [17], to enhance the presence of lipid layer(s), in the form of an external sheath organoleptic appeal and presentation of a cosmetics, various covering each of these droplets [23]. Liposomes are formed type of novel drug delivery carriers such as liposomes, with the help of external energy (mechanical dispersion, phytosomes, ethosomes, pharmacosomes, microemulsions solvent dispersion and detergent removal). The main and nanocrystals have been discussed [18, 19]. component of liposome membranes are phospholipids (e.g. phosphotidylcholine, phophotidylserine and cholesterol etc.) In the last 20 years, about a thousand articles and reviews and amphiphiles [24]. A lot of work has been done to study about oral lipid carriers have been reported. Due to the the mechanics of how hydrophilic or hydrophobic drugs can numerous advantages many such formulations have come to be retained within these structures, and the factors which the market. A lot of literature is available regarding the determine their particle size, stability and so on [25]. Zhang material, formulation methods and evaluation of lipid based et al. investigated flexible liposomes as a potential oral drug oral delivery systems [20-22]. delivery system. Curcumin loaded silica-coated flexible This paper envisages discussing the various types of oral liposomes were prepared to enhance the bioavailability of lipid delivery systems available, so that an insight is gained curcumin and it was found that bioavailability is 7.76 fold into all these carriers, and the formulation scientist can make higher than that of curcumin suspensionsconfirming that a judicious decision regarding choice of a lipid based carrier. improved bioavailability was possible through such delivery systems [26]. Recent studies revealed improved liposomal Liposomes encapsulation and stability in heat processed food containing These are, hollow, lipidic, single or bilayered structures peptides [27]. Liposomes with phosphatidy lethanol as a enclosed within an aqueous environment. They can be carrier for oral delivery of insulin, has also been studied. Lipid Nanoformulations for Oral Delivery of Bioactives: An Overview Current Drug Therapy, 2014, Vol. 9, No. 1 37 Many of these liposome formulations have been patented Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) and have also found their way into the market. Liposomal NLCs are advanced lipid nanoparticles which are the antracyclines appeared on the market al.most a decade ago next generation of SLNs. They are able to alleviate [28]. Oral vaccine delivery through liposomes has also been limitations like limited drug payload, polymorphic utilized for better patient compliance [29]. transitions. These consist of a mixture of solid lipid and Ethosomes liquid lipid. Due to differences in structures of solid and liquid lipid these cannot form a perfect crystal lattice and The ethosomes are vesicular carriers which comprise of hence the matrix contains imperfections which allows drug hydroalcoholic or hydro/alcoholic/glycolic phospholipids to be accommodated into the spaces created due to these and can be prepared by film hydration method [30] and hot imperfections [46]. melt method using magnetic stirrer, probe sonicator as well as high pressure homogenizer [31]. They necessarily contain Increased drug loading can be made possible by mixing a high quantity of alcohol which is capable of dissolving the both solid and liquid lipid (oils). Unlike other systems, NLCs lipid contained in the skin and thereby resulting in higher show high drug loading as well as physical stability. These penetrability. The higher alcoholic content also makes them can also be scaled up or used for the formulation of a flexible and thus makes them suited for delivery through conventional dosage form which is widely accepted by skin [32, 33]. patients