In-vitro study of formulation and evaluation of nanosuspension of tamoxifen

ABSTRACT

Background: Nanosuspension technology has been developed as a promising candidate for efficient delivery of hydrophobic drugs. It could maintain the required crystalline state of the drug with reduced particle size, leading to an increased reporting on dissolution rate and therefore improved bioavailability.Methods: In this paper, we report on the preparation of Tamoxifen nanosuspension by high-pressure homogenization (HPH). The aim is to obtain a stable nanosuspension with an increased drug saturation solubility and dissolution velocity. The morphology and particle size distribution of the modified nanosuspensions were characterized by the means of several analyses that included transmission electron microscopy (TEM), polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X- ray diffractometry (XRD).Results: HPH was employed to produce aqueous drug nanosuspensions with fine solubility and dissolution properties, which render the produced particles stable up to one month. In addition, the prepared nanosuspensions possessed a high drug-loading efficiency (10%). The recoded zeta potential values (? -27 mV) indicated that the prepared nanosuspensions possess a higher degree of long-term stability. TEM data showed narrow size distribution with average size 322.7 nm. Morphologically, as indicated from results, the produced nanosuspensions have a homogenous distribution even after redispersion, indicating the stability of the product.Conclusions: It was possible to obtain Tamoxifen nanosuspensions with fine solubility and dissolution properties. Nanosuspensions possessed a high drug- loading (10%), which could reduce the dosage administration and gastrointestinal side effects. HPH can be employed to produce aqueous drug nanosuspensions that are stable up to one month. Aqueous nanosuspension can be converted to dry nanocrystals by lyophilization which offer superior physicochemical properties.