Ritonavir nanosuspensions prepared by microfluidization with enhanced solubility and desirable immunological properties

Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop ritonavir (RTV) nanosuspensions (NSs) by microfluidization method. Particle size (PS) measurements were performed by photon correlation spectroscopy. Amorphous properties of the particles were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dissolution studies were conducted in fed state simulated intestinal fluid (FeSSIF) medium. The flow cytometry was utilized to determine the lymphocyte sub-groups and immune response of NSs. RTV NSs were obtained with 400–500 nm PS. The crystal properties of RTV remain unchanged. The solubility of NS was enhanced five times. 57% and 18% of RTV were dissolved in FeSSIF medium for NSs and coarse powder. According to immunological studies, the prepared NSs did not significantly alter the ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺. Therefore, NSs may be a beneficial approach for the oral administration of RTV.

Keywords:

• Nanosuspension
• ritonavir
• microfluidization
• design of experiment
• immunological evaluation

Author contributions

Conception: AK and NC; design: AK and NC; resources: NC and HC; materials: NC and HC; data collection: AK and HC; interpretation: AK, HC, and NC; literature search: AK; writing manuscript: AK and HC; critical review: AK and NC. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

All data obtained during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This study is supported by a grant from The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, Project Number 113S842).