Selection of Polymeric Excipients for Poorly Soluble Drugs

Abstract

Pharmaceutical drug delivery systems consists of variety of additional constituents other than its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) required for pharmacological activity [1]. These constituents are defined as excipients by International pharmaceutical excipients council and are required to be properly evaluated for safety before included in delivery systems [2]. Excipients, although pharmacological inert are a key determinant of delivery systems performance. They are included in a delivery systems not for their direct therapeutic action, but are added to the delivery systems to either aid in processing during its manufacture (for e.g., vehicles, co-solvents, anti-adherents, polymers), protect, support and enhance stability, bioavailability and patient acceptability (for e.g., anti-oxidants, preservatives, disintegrants, coatings,sweetening agents, flavoring agents), assist in product identification (for e.g colorants), or enhance other attributes of the safety and effectiveness of the drug delivery system during its storage and use [3].