Ex-vivo absorption study of a nanoparticle based novel drug delivery system of vitamin D3 (Arachitol Nano™) using everted intestinal sac technique

Abstract

Cholecalciferol, is a fat soluble vitamin D3 (Vit.D3), recognized in promoting bone health in children and adults and also it has other health benefits. Vit.D3 has suggested being dependent on bile salts for the formation of mixed micelles which is a pre requisite for its absorption. The efficiency of oral absorption of conventional Vit.D3 is approximately 50 %. Arachitol Nano™ is a commercially available nanoparticle based novel drug delivery system (NDDS) of Vit.D3. Data on the uptake of Vit.D3 from the NDDS (Arachitol Nano™) through the intestinal epithelium is not documented. The aim of the study was to investigate the absorption of a nanoparticle based NDDS of Vit.D3 (Arachitol Nano™) using everted rat intestinal sac technique. The results of the study suggested that Vit.D3 from Arachitol Nano™ showed a nonspecific absorption through various segments of rat small intestine, with high flux, permeability coefficient and percentage of absorption (79.21 ± 0.23, 76.55 ± 0.24 and 77.73 ± 0.24 % for duodenum, jejunum and ileum). The average absorption of Arachitol Nano™ was 77.83 ± 0.24 % through rat small intestine. The predicted human absorption may be more than 90 %. The study demonstrates that water soluble nanoparticle Vit.D3 (Arachitol Nano™) can substantially increase the oral absorption of the vitamin D3 and thus can be useful in the oral delivery of vitamin D3.