title: Improved drug delivery using microemulsions: rationale, recent progress, and new horizons.
abstract: Microemulsions are excellent candidates as potential drug delivery systems because of their improved drug solubilization, long shelf life, and ease of preparation and administration. The formulation of microemulsions for pharmaceutical use requires a thorough understanding of the properties, uses, and limitations of microemulsions. Three distinct microemulsions--oil external, water external, and middle phase--can be used for drug delivery, depending upon the type of drug and the site of action. In this article, we present an examination of microemulsions as drug carrier systems, starting with general information and moving to a thorough review of the microemulsion literature, with a special section devoted to microemulsion-based gels.
authors.affiliation: Center for Surface Science and Engineering, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bagwe
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kanicky
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Palla
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Patanjali
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D003102:Colloids; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004655:Emulsions; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D012995:Solubility; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004655:Emulsions; D008081:Liposomes; D013501:Surface-Active Agents