The present investigation was aimed to develop self-nanoemulsifying tablets (SNETs) as novel nanosized solid oral dosage forms for Irbesartan (IRB). In the first part of the investigation, IRB-loaded self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) were developed using Capryol 90 - Cremophor RH40 - Transcutol P as three component (oil - surfactant - cosurfactant) SNEDDS system. On the basis of ternary phase diagram IRB-loaded SNEDDS were optimized by using Design of Experiments (DoE) and Principal component analysis (PCA) with amount of oil and surfactant: cosurfactant ratio (Km) as factors. The optimized batch of IRB-loaded SNEDDS comprised of 31.62% w/w of Capryol 90 as oil phase, 49.90% w/w Cremophor RH40 as surfactant and 18.48% w/w of Transcutol P as cosurfactant exemplified a mean globule size as 23.94 nm. Further, with an aim to provide enhanced patient compliance the optimized batch of liquid SNEDDS was transformed into SNETs by liquisolid compaction technique. Solid state characterization of IRB-loaded liquisolid mixtures revealed a decrease in the magnitude of crystallinity of IRB. The results of in vitro drug release study of optimized batch of IRB-loaded SNET illustrated a remarkable improvement in the dissolution rate as compared to marketed tablets (Avapro® 75). The results of in vivo pharmacokinetic study on Wister rats revealed 1.78-fold enhancement in oral bioavailability for IRB-loaded SNETs against marketed tablets. The present study proposed SNEDDS as one of the suitable approach for developing nanosized solid oral dosage forms of poorly water soluble drugs like Irbesartan.
Keywords: In vivo; irbesartan; liquisolid compaction; principal component analysis; self-nanoemulsifying tablets.