Solubility and dissolution rate enhancement of lumefantrine using hot melt extrusion technology with physicochemical characterisation

The interest in hot-melt extrusion as a drug delivery technology for the production of solid dispersion is growing rapidly. Lumefantrine (LUMF) is an antimalarial drug that exhibits poor oral bioavailability, in consequence of its poor aqueous solubility. To improve its antimalarial activity, solid dispersion formulation using hot melt extrusion technology was prepared. Appropriate selection of polymers, favoured the production of amorphous LUMF-polymer solid dispersions. The physicochemical properties of solid dispersions were characterized using scanning electron microscope, Infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. LUMF SD showed enhanced dissolution rate attributed to amorphosization of LUMF. The IC50 value of LUMF SD formulations was found to be (0.084-0.213 ng/mL) i.e. 220-101 times lower than the IC50 value of pure LUMF (18.2 ng/mL) and 45-18 times lower than the IC50 value of standard antimalarial drug, chloroquine (3.8 ng/mL). Molecular dynamic simulation approach was used to investigate drug-polymer molecular interaction using computational modelling Schrodinger® software. LUMF SD powder makes the Coartem® therapy more operative with value-added beneficial comeback. © 2013 The Korean Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology.