Development and characterization of curcumin-loaded solid self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) by spray drying using Soluplus® as solid carrier

Highlights

• Soluplus® could be used as a carrier for the entrapment of SEDDS.

• Spray drying is efficient for the preparation of Solid SEDDS with Soluplus®.

• Solid SEDDS in Soluplus® exhibit comparable flow as Neusilin® based adsorbates.

• CUR-SEDDS dissolves faster when trapped in Soluplus® compared to Neusilin® US2.

• Compression of powdered SEDDS results in sustained CUR release.

The objectives of the current work were (a) to investigate the suitability of soluplus®^, a hydrophilic polymer, as a carrier for the entrapment of curcumin (CUR) SEDDS by the spray-drying process, and (b) to compare soluplus® with neusilin® US2, a hydrophobic high-capacity adsorbent for solid SEDDS. Both carriers produced free flowing powders with high CUR entrapment efficiency. When filled into capsules, approximately 95% of CUR was dissolved from the soluplus® powder within 120 min and only 41% from the neusilin® US2 base powder. When the powders were compressed into tablets, a slow CUR release was observed over 24 h, which varied as a function of compression force and the percentage of disintegrant used. In conclusion, current study demonstrated the feasibility of using soluplus® as a carrier for the preparation of solid SEDDS with more favorable release profiles when compared to the conventional hydrophobic adsorbents.

Author links open overlay panelMohammad M.Kamal, Ahmad Salawi, Matthew Lam, AliNokhodchi, Ahmed Abu-Fayyad, Khalid A.El Sayed, SamiNazzal
Powder Technology
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2020.05.023