Design and evaluation of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) for cefpodoxime proxetil

Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) were developed with the objective to overcome problems associated with the delivery of cefpodoxime proxetil (CFP), a poorly bioavailable high dose antibiotic having pH dependant solubility. Solubility of CFP in oily phases and surfactants was determined to identify components of SNEDDS. Various surfactants and co-surfactants were screened for their ability to emulsify selected oily phases. Ternary phase diagrams were constructed to identify area of nanoemulsification for the selected systems. The influence of CFP and the pH of dilution medium on the phase behavior of selected system were assessed. The globule size of optimized CFP SNEDDS in various dissolution media was determined to check the effect of pH on its behavior. The optimized CFP SNEDDS needed surfactant content less than 40% and yielded nanoemulsion of mean globule size 170 nm, which was not affected by the pH of dilution medium. The optimized SNEDDS released CFP completely within 20 min irrespective of the pH of dissolution medium.