FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF SELF EMULSIFYING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM (SEDDS) OF IBUPROFEN

Aim of present investigation was to develop self emulsifying drug delivery system of ibuprofen to enhance solubility, dissolution rate which may improve therapeutic performance and drug loading capacity so as to develop alternative to traditional oral formulations to improve bioavailability. In this study Labrafac, Tween 80 and PEG 200 were selected as oil, surfactant and co-surfactant respectively. Formulation development and screening was done based on results obtained from phase diagrams and characteristics of resultant microemulsions. The developed SEDDS were evaluated for droplet size analysis, zeta potential, polydispersibility index, viscosity, refractive index, % transmittance, drug content and in vitro diffusion profiles. All formulations of ibuprofen SEDDS showed globule size in micrometer range, good stability with no phase separation, creaming or cracking and rapidly formed emulsion which was clear. All formulations showed more than 90% of drug release within 30 min. The SEDDS showed improved dissolution rate compared to marketed product. Anti-inflammatory studies were conducted in Wistar strain male albino rats and ibuprofen SEDDS showed more significant activity than the marketed product. Thus, the study confirmed that the SEDDS formulation can be used as a possible alternative to traditional oral formulations of ibuprofen to improve its bioavailability.