Abstract: This presentation will introduce the use of microemulsions and self-microemulsiying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) formulated with lecihtin and polyglycerol esters of fatty acids as hydrophilic linkers (HL). This specific combination is necessary to compensate for the polar nature of polar yet hydrophobic drugs such as cannabinoids. To understand the interplay between the polar oil nature of the drug, the surfactant (lecithin) and the HL, the HLD-NAC model had to be implemented, incorporating the polar oil concept, to decide the amount of oil+ drug loading that the SMEDDS formulation could carry. The connection between HLD-NAC guided design of the formulation and the performance of the formulation in in-vivo animal models for the delivery of ibuprofen and cannabidiol will be discussed. The fast increase in plasma concentration of the drug obtained with the Lecithin-linker SMEDDS will be discussed in terms of the mechanisms of drug uptake.
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