Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) of anti-cancer drugs: a multifaceted nanoplatform for the enhancement of oral bioavailability

Abstract

Objective

A significant problem faced by the health care industry today is that though there are numerous drugs available to tackle diseases like cancer, their intrinsic properties make it difficult to be delivered to patients in a feasible manner. One of the key players that have helped researchers overcome poor solubility and permeability of drugs is Nanotechnology, this article further iterates on the same.

Significance

Nanotechnology is used as an umbrella term in pharmaceutics and describes under it multiple technologies. Upcoming nanotechnology is a Self Nanoemulsifying System which is considered to be a futuristic delivery system both due to its scientific simplicity and relative ease of patient delivery.

Methods

Self-Nano Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (SNEDDS) are homogenous lipidic concoctions containing the drug solubilized in the oil phase and surfactants. The choice of components depends on the physicochemical properties of the drugs, the solubilization capability of oils and the physiological fate of the drug. The article contains further details of various methodologies that have been adopted by scientists to formulate and optimize such systems in order to make anticancer drugs orally deliverable.

Results

The results that have been generated by scientists across the globe have been summarized in the article and all of the data supports the claim that SNEDDS significantly enhance the solubility and bioavailability of hydrophobic anticancer drugs.

Conclusions

This article mainly provides the application of SNEDDS in cancer therapy and concludes to provide a step for the oral administration of several BCS class II and IV anticancer drugs.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Self-nanoemulsifying system
• anti-cancer drugs
• oral bioavailability
• lipid-based formulation
• solubility
• lymphatic delivery

Acknowledgments

Authors would like to thank Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MAHE, Manipal, India. Authors are also thankful for Biorender.com, an image-making tool.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.