Nanosuspension: An emerging trend to improve solubility of poorly water soluble drugs

Abstract

There are various parameters like solubility, stability, compatibility, excipient, and photostability which affects formulation of drugs, but solubility plays an important role for drug formulation. Most of newly discovered drugs are poorly water soluble. The poor water solubility of drugs always create major problem during drug formulation. There are many conventional techniques available for increasing the solubility of poorly soluble drugs such as micronization, solubilisation using co‐solvents, salt form, precipitation technique etc. Other newer methods are also available such as liposomes, emulsions, microemulsion, solid dispersion but they lack in general applicability to all drugs. These techniques are not applicable for those drugs which are not soluble in aqueous and organic solvents. Poorly water-soluble compounds are difficult to develop as drug products using conventional formulation techniques. Nanotechnology is emerging trend to develop the formulation of those drugs which are poorly water soluble. Nanotechnology involves particle size ranges from 1–1000 nm. The reduction of drug particle size into the submicron range automatically leads to increase in the dissolution rate and therefore enhances bioavailability. Nanosuspension technology is effective new way that can be used for enhancing the dissolution of poorly water soluble drugs. A nanosuspension solves the problems of poor solubility and bioavailability as well as alters the pharmacokinetics of drug and this will improve drug safety and efficacy. Another additional feature of nanosuspensions is that they may induce changes in the crystalline structure, increasing the amorphous fraction in the particle or even sometimes creating completely amorphous particles.

Keywords: Nanotechnology, Solubility, Nanosuspension, methods, bioavailability