Objective: To develop and optimize self-micro emulsifying drug delivery systems of Olmesartan Medoxomil using formulation by design approach for improvement of solubility and dissolution rate.
Methods: A simplex centroid design was employed as statistical tools to optimize the formulation variables, X1 (Coconut oil), X2 (Kolliphor RH) and X3 (PEG 400). The high and low levels of these factors were selected according the micro-emulsion region obtained from the pseudo-ternary phase diagram. The response variables studied were mean globule size (Y1) and average absorbance (Y2).
Results: The optimized formulation consisted of 21.54% of coconut oil, 36.04% of Kolliphor RH and 42.42% of PEG 400 which could provide a globule size of 125.94 nm and an average absorbance of 0.85. Dissolution studies revealed a marked increase in dissolution of the optimized formulation when compared with the pure drug.
Conclusion: Thus, it was concluded that self-micro emulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) provided a promising formulation approach for the solubility and dissolution enhancement of the poorly soluble drug, Olmesartan Medoxomil
