Characterization of Olive Oil based Microemulsion Drug Delivery System for Oral delivery of Antiulcer agent

The objective of the present research was to develop and characterize an olive oil based oral microemulsion systems for famotidine, is a BCS class III drugs which are known to have high solubility but low permeability. An olive oil based microemulsion formulation with Tween-80 as surfactant, and PEG-400 as co-surfactant, was developed for oral delivery of famotidine. Pseudoternary phase diagram was constructed to determine the microemulsion existing zone. Optimized microemulsion was evaluated for its transparency, droplet size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, viscosity, conductivity, DSC studies, SANS studies. The results showed that maximum oil was incorporated in microemulsion system that was contained surfactant to co-surfactant ratio (Km) of 2:1. The optimized microemulsion formulation containing olive oil (7.14%), Tween-80 & PEG-400 [Smix=64.29% (2:1 ratio)], and distilled water (28.57%), had a droplet size (10 times diluted) and zeta potential (10 times diluted) of 170.1 nm and -6.58 mV respectively. Particle size characterization of the resulting microemulsion is essential in ensuring stability and efficient dosage. FTIR and DSC studies revealed the compatibility among the famotidine and microemulsion components. The experimental SANS data of optimized formulation fit well by spherical micelles interacting with hard sphere potential. These results demonstrate microemulsion formulation may be used as an effective and alternative drug delivery system for the antiulcer oral therapy with famotidine.