Solid Dispersion Technology As a Strategy to Improve the Bioavailability of Poorly Soluble Drugs

Abstract

Over the last half-century, solid dispersions (SDs) have been intensively investigated as a strategy to improve drugs solubility and dissolution rate, enhancing oral bioavailability. In this review, an overview of the state of the art of SDs technology is presented, focusing on their classification, the main preparation methods, the limitations associated with their instability, and the marketed products. To fully take advantage of SDs potential, an improvement in their physical stability and the ability to prolong the supersaturation of the drug in gastrointestinal fluids is required, as well as a better scientific understanding of scale-up for defining a robust manufacturing process. Taking these limitations into account will contribute to increase the number of marketed pharmaceutical products based on SD technology.

Keywords:

• bioavailability
• hydrophilic polymers
• melting method
• poor aqueous solubility
• solid dispersions
• solvent method

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Authors would like to thank for the financial support to Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT) (grant number PICT 2012-2643) and Consejo de Investigación Universidad Nacional de Salta (CIUNSa; grant numbers 2199, 2398 and 2392). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.