Microemulsion Coating – A Significant Leap from Traditional Film Coating
The microemulsion coating is a nano-coating technique to develop advanced drug formulations.
Compared to standard coatings, it enhances the solubility, bioavailability, and drug release pattern.
Modern drug manufacturing focuses on developing more stable, effective dosage forms.
Aprazer Healthcare – Advanced Drug Manufacturing
At Aprazer Healthcare (pharmaceutical manufacturer), we are focused on developing advanced drug therapies.
Addressing the manufacturing challenges, leveraging advanced technology, we manufacture a range of advanced formulations.
From targeted therapies to controlled–release formulation, we manufacture a comprehensive range of pharmaceutical dosage forms.
What is microemulsion coating?
It is the coating of the drugs with nano-sized dispersions (thermodynamically stable and transparent).
It enhances the –
- Solubility
- Bioavailability
- Absorption
- sustained release
The components of microemulsion coating –
It is a mixture formed by –
- Oil phase
- Aqueous phase
- Surfactants
- Co-surfactants
The oil and the water phases are mixed.
The surfactants are added. They reduce the interfacial tension, rendering stable dispersions.
The emulsion formed consists of small nanoparticle droplets.
The drug is coated with the mixture using the spray drying technique or fluidized bed coating.
What are the advantages of microemulsion coating?
Controlled release formulation –
They encapsulate the drug within the tiny droplets.
These act as a reservoir.
The drug is released as a process of diffusion through the film coating.
It causes a slow and steady release.
Improved Bioavailability –
The poorly soluble or unstable drugs are coated with polymers.
They are – stable, transparent, and colloidal nanoparticle dispersion.
It enhances the permeability and solubility.
Enhanced Absorption –
The nanoparticle or the ultra-fine droplets have a larger surface area.
It increases drug absorption.
Enhanced Distribution –
These are thermodynamically stable mixtures.
These do not form clumps or crystallize at a place.
Protection from degradation-
The coating protects the drug from enzymatic or PH degradation.
Better Patient Compliance-
Microemulsion coating masks the taste or odor of the drug.
It improves compliance.
Increased stability/shelf –life
These are thermodynamically stable. They do not change the phase.
It enhances stability and shelf life.
Increased Drug Load-
It acts as a reservoir for both –
Hydrophilic /lipophilic drugs
Due to the multiphasic system, high concentrations of the drug can be incorporated.
Multi-functional formulation –
It can incorporate multiple APIs by partitioning them between the two phases.
Scalable /cost- effective manufacturing –
They are low-energy systems. They are cheap and faster to produce compared to nanoparticle carriers.
They are thermodynamically stable and less likely to spoil.
They have an extended shelf life.
The Therapeutic uses of microemulsion coatings-
Oncology –
The anticancer drugs are lipid-soluble.
It becomes difficult to dissolve.
The microemulsion coatings enhance the solubility of lipophilic drugs.
CNS Targeting Drugs –
It solubilizes the poorly soluble drugs to cross the lipid cell membranes.
It enhances the permeability and effectively crosses the blood–brain barrier.
The drugs are coated to increase permeation through the nasal cavity.
Anti- infective drugs-
The microfilm coating improves penetration into the targeted site/wound.
They also increase permeation into the bacterial cell.
Pediatric Drugs-
The microfilm coatings mask the taste.
Encapsulating the bitter drugs, using taste modulators, increases patient compliance.
Transdermal Drug Delivery-
Micro-emulsion coatings enhance the drug permeation through the dermal layer.
Acting as a reservoir, it helps control drug release.
Conclusion –
Microemulsion coatings have overcome the formulation barriers like poor solubility, lower permeation, and poor biocompatibility.
It is the transformation of the old drugs to form more stable and faster-acting solutions.
