Solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) for oral delivery of glimepiride: development and antidiabetic activity in albino rabbits

Abstract

Context: This study presents novel self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system potential of oral delivering which leads poorly aqueous soluble drug glimepiride.Objective: The objective of this study was to prepare solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) for the improved oral delivery of glimepiride and to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy in albino rabbits.Results and discussion: The droplet size analyses revealed a droplet size of less than 200 nm. The solid state characterization of S-SNEDDS by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed the absence of crystalline glimepiride in the S-SNEDDS. The in vitro dissolution studies revealed that the significant improvement in glimepiride release characteristics. The effect of S-SNEDDS on therapeutic efficacy of glimepride was assessed in albino rabbits by monitoring blood glucose levels and compared with free drug suspension, L-SNEDDS. The S-SNEDDS showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in in vitro drug release and therapeutic efficacy as compared with free drug.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that S-SNEDDS is a promising novel drug delivery system of glimepride to enhance oral delivery.