Deep Eutectic Solvent Platform for Poorly Water-Soluble APIs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pharmaceutical formulations struggle to effectively solubilize and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to variable absorption and limited therapeutic effects.
Innovation Solution
A deep eutectic solvent (DES) composition combining a glycol with a polymer solubilizer and one or more natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) constituents, optimized to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of APIs, incorporating polymeric precipitation inhibitors to maintain stability and absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional aqueous formulations are used for poorly water-soluble APIs, then the formulation is simple to prepare, but the solubility and bioavailability of the API are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses deep eutectic solvents composed of multiple components (e.g., choline chloride, organic acids, alcohols) in specific ratios to create a composite liquid formulation system. This composite approach enables poor solubility of APIs in conventional aqueous systems to be overcome while maintaining formulation feasibility through systematic component selection from natural deep eutectic solvent building blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameters of the formulation system by transitioning from conventional aqueous bases to deep eutectic solvent systems with specific eutectic compositions. By adjusting the ratios of DES components and selecting appropriate natural deep eutectic solvent constituents, the solubility environment is fundamentally altered to accommodate poorly water-soluble APIs while maintaining stability and bioavailability.
2Quantity of substance
If high concentration of API is achieved in liquid formulation, then effective dose can be delivered in acceptable volume, but API stability in liquid may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The deep eutectic solvent acts as an intermediary medium between the poorly water-soluble API and the aqueous gastrointestinal environment. The DES components (organic acids, alcohols, choline salts) create a stable solvation environment that maintains high API concentration while preventing degradation, and the polymeric precipitation inhibitor further mediates stability by preventing API precipitation during gastrointestinal transit.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs biodegradable, naturally-derived DES components that are safe for gastrointestinal contact. These natural deep eutectic solvent constituents (citric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, glycerol, propylene glycol) are inherently biocompatible and metabolizable, allowing high API concentration in a stable liquid formulation without long-term stability concerns due to their benign nature.
3Reliability
If polymeric precipitation inhibitors are added to improve API solubility, then bioavailability increases, but formulation complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The deep eutectic solvent system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as the primary solvent for the API, provides a stable formulation matrix, acts as a precipitation inhibitor itself through its unique solvation properties, and facilitates gastrointestinal absorption. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate excipients and simplifies the overall formulation compared to conventional approaches requiring multiple additives.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The DES composition significantly increases the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble APIs, achieving therapeutic concentrations and improved absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, as demonstrated by enhanced solubility and bioavailability data.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention uses deep eutectic solvents that are liquid at ambient conditions and have negligible human or animal toxicity. The DES composition significantly increases the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble APIs.
Implementation Method 2
DESs are liquids with a melting point that is lower than the melting points of its constituents. The present invention is directed to a platform used to create liquid formulations, particularly non-aqueous liquid formulations for poorly water soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
The present invention relates to Eutectic Mixtures (EM), and preferably Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES), that are used in or as oral pharmaceutical formulation platforms. These platforms improve the solubility and bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), and especially of poorly water-soluble APIs. The deep eutectic solvent (DES) compositions of the invention make use of a combination of a glycol with a polymer solubilizer component in specific molar ratios.