title: Preparation and evaluation of fexofenadine microemulsion for intranasal delivery.
abstract: To enhance the solubility and bioavailability of poorly absorbable fexofenadine, microemulsion system composed of oil, surfactant and co-surfactant was developed for intranasal delivery. Phase behavior, particle size, viscosity and solubilization capacity of the microemulsion system were characterized. Histopathology and in vivo nasal absorption of the optimized microemulsion formulations were also investigated in rats. A single isotropic region was found in the pseudo-ternary phase diagrams developed at various ratios with Lauroglycol 90 as oil, Labrasol as surfactant and Plurol oleiqueCC49 or its mixture with PEG-400 (1:1) as cosurfactant. An increase in the microemulsion region in pseudo-ternary phase systems was observed with increased surfactant concentration. The optimized microemulsion formulations showed higher solubulization of fexofenadine, i.e., F1 (22.64mg/mL) and F2 (22.98mg/mL), compared to its intrinsic water solubility (1.51mg/mL). Nasal absorption of fexofenadine from these microemulsions was found to be fairly rapid. T(max) was observed within 5min after intranasal administration at 1.0mg/kg dose, and the absolute bioavailability (0-4h) was about 68% compared to the intravenous administration in rats. Our results suggested that these microemulsion formulations could be used as an effective intranasal dosage form for the rapid-onset delivery of fexofenadine.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Piao
authors.forename: Prabagar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balakrishnan
authors.forename: Hyun Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hyunjun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: You Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Suk-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Chang-Koo
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Dae-Duk
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Kim