Development and Optimization of a Microemulsion for Erlotinib Hydrochloride: A Novel Approach for Enhanced Lung Cancer Therapy

This Paper Is Devoted To The Design, Development, And Optimization Of Microemulsion-Based Nasal Spray Formulation Of Erlotinib Hydrochloride, A Targeted Anticancer Drug. Solubility Studies, As Well As Partition Coefficient (Log P) And Drug-Excipient Compatibility Studies Were Also Performed To Identify The Most Appropriate Excipient Combination To Develop A Microemulsion. Solubility Tests Showed That Labrafac, Cremophor RH 40 And Transcutol P Were Best To Improve The Solubility Of The Drug. The Partition Coefficient Was Suitable And The Lipophilicity Of The Drug Would Favor Nasal Absorption. In Addition, The Stereochemical Study By FTIR And DSC Analysis Demonstrated That Erlotinib Hydrochloride Could Not Dissolve At Room Temperature In The Presence Of Chosen Excipients. Optimization Of The Microemulsion Formulation Was Done Using A Pseudoternary Phase Diagram And Investigation Of The Excipient Ratio Effects On Formulation Stability Was Carried Out. It Was Noted That The Phase Behaviour Evolved Between Clear And Turbid Formulations As The Surfactant To Co-Surfactant Ratio (Smix) Declined. The Best Formulations Of Microemulsions Were Also Described As Clear, Low Viscous And Stable. To Further Optimize The Formulation, A Central Composite Design (CCD) Was Employed, And The Responses Such As That Of Globule Size, Zeta Potential And Polydispersity Index Were Determined. The Findings Revealed That The Smallest Globule Size, Low Zeta Potential And A Low Polydispersity Index Were Obtained In Run 3 And This Was The Most Stable, And Uniform Formulation. In Summary, The Paper Has Shown The Possibility Of Microemulsion-Based Nasal Delivery Of Erlotinib Hydrochloride Which Is Highly Soluble, Stable And Bioavailable Thereby Has Increased Therapeutic Responses In The Treatment Of Lung Cancer.