Effect of self-emulsifying phase composition on the characteristics of venlafaxine loaded alginate beads

In this work, different formulations of alginate beads containing venlafaxine were prepared by ionotropic gelation. The drug was solubilized in a self-emulsifying phase composed of different percentages of Labrasol or Labrafil and tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS).

Beads were characterized and the relationship between the different qualitative and quantitative composition of the self-emulsifying phase and bead properties were studied.

The morphological analysis carried out on Labrasol and Labrafil dried beads evidenced that their mean diameter depended on the quantitative composition of the self-emulsifying phase: systems containing high percentages of liquid excipient (Labrasol or Labrafil) were high in size. Swelling study evidenced that high percentages of Labrasol or Labrafil in the formulation favored the penetration of large quantities of fluid in the systems and were responsible for a rapid and notable swelling. Bead swelling ability, rate of bead erosion and drug release after contact with a fluid were affected by the hydrophilic/lipophilic nature of the liquid excipient in the self-emulsifying phase. Labrafil systems were characterized by a higher fluid resistance than Labrasol ones being Labrafil more lipophilic than Labrasol. Labrafil beads showed low aqueous fluid affinity and were able to prolong the drug release. Download the full ScienceDirect publication here: effect-of-self-emulsifying-phase-composition-on-the-characteristics-of-venlafaxine-loaded-alginate-beads.pdf