title: Applications of hot-melt extrusion for drug delivery.
abstract: In today's pharmaceutical arena, it is estimated that more than 40% of new chemical entities produced during drug discovery efforts exhibit poor solubility characteristics. However, over the last decade hot-melt extrusion (HME) has emerged as a powerful processing technology for drug delivery and has opened the door to a host of molecules previously considered unviable as drugs. HME is considered to be an efficient technique in developing solid molecular dispersions and has been demonstrated to provide sustained, modified and targeted drug delivery resulting in improved bioavailability. This article reviews the range of HME applications for pharmaceutical dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, films and implants for drug delivery through oral, transdermal, transmucosal, transungual, as well as other routes of administration. Interest in HME as a pharmaceutical process continues to grow and the potential of automation and reduction of capital investment and labor costs have made this technique worthy of consideration as a drug delivery solution.
authors.affiliation: The University of Mississippi, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics, University, MS 38677, USA. marepka@olemiss.edu
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Repka
authors.forename: Soumyajit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Majumdar
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar Battu
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Srirangam
authors.forename: Sampada B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Upadhye
mesh_terms: D001682:Biological Availability; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006358:Hot Temperature; D012995:Solubility; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers