METHODS: By adding Hydroxy Propyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC) as a precipitation inhibitor to conventional SNEDDS, a supersaturable system was prepared. Firstly, the prepared SNEDDS played an important role in increasing the aqueous solubility and hence oral absorption due to nano-range size. Secondly, the S-SNEDDS found to be advantageous over SNEDDS for having a higher drug load and inhibition of dilution precipitation of Dutasteride. Formulated S-SNEDDS (F1-F9) ranged from 37.42 ± 1.02 to 68.92 ± 0.09 nm with PDI 0.219-0.34 and drug loading of over 95 percent.

RESULTS: The study of in-vitro dissolution revealed higher dissolution for S-SNEDDS compared to SNEDDS and Avodart soft gelatin capsule as a commercial product. In addition, higher absorption was observed for S-SNEDDS showing approximately 1.28 and 1.27 fold AUC (0-24h) and Cmax compared to commercial products. Therefore, S-SNEDDS has proven as a novel drug delivery system with a higher drug load, higher self-emulsification efficiency, higher stability, higher dissolution and pronounced absorption.

METHODS: Hydrophilic pectin-sulphanilamide films, with or without oleic acid (OA), were subjected to drug release and skin permeation studies. The skins were untreated or microwave-treated, and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermal, electron microscopy and histology techniques.

RESULTS: Skin treatment by microwave at 2450 MHz for 5 min promoted drug permeation from OA-free film without incurring skin damage. Skin treatment by microwave followed by film loaded with drug and OA resulted in permeation of all drug molecules that were released from film. Microwave exerted spacing of lipid architecture of stratum corneum into structureless domains which was unattainable by OA. It allowed OA to permeate stratum corneum and accumulate in dermis at a greater ease, and synergistically inducing lipid/keratin fluidization at hydrophobic C-H and hydrophilic O-H, N-H, C-O, C=O, C-N regimes of skin, and promoting drug permeation.