Study of partition of nitrazepam in bile salt micelles and the role of lecithin

The effect of trihydroxy (sodium cholate and sodium glycocholate) and dihydroxy (sodium deoxycholate and sodium glycodeoxycholate) bile salt micelles on the spectrophotometric properties and on the solubility of nitrazepam in aqueous solution, at 25.0 degrees C and at ionic strength 0.1 M in sodium chloride, has been assessed. From the results obtained it was possible to calculate the partition coefficients (Kp) of nitrazepam between aqueous and micellar phases. The partition coefficients of nitrazepam have also been determined in mixed micelles of cholate or deoxycholate with lecithin (egg yolk phosphatidylcholine), which were used as a model of the gastrointestinal tract. Drug partition was found to depend on the bile acid (number of hydroxyl groups and conjugation with glycine), and our data indicate further that addition of lecithin to bile salt micelles decreases the values of the partition coefficients in the mixed micelles at physiological pH.     

Bile salt composition is secondary to bile salt concentration in determining hydrocortisone and progesterone solubility in intestinal mimetic fluids

Simulated intestinal fluids (SIFs) used to assay the solubility of orally administered drugs are typically based on a single bile salt; sodium taurocholate (STC). The aim of this study was to develop mimetic intestinal fluids with a closer similarity to physiological fluids than those reported to date by developing a mixed bile salt (MBS) system (STC, sodium glycodeoxycholate, sodium deoxycholate; 60:39:1) with different concentrations of lecithin, the preponderant intestinal phospholipid. Hydrocortisone and progesterone were used as model drugs to evaluate systematically the influence of SIF composition on solubility. Increasing total bile salt concentration from 0 to 30 mM increased hydrocortisone and progesterone solubility by 2- and ～25-fold, respectively. Accordingly, higher solubilities were measured in the fed-state compared to the fasted-state SIFs. Progesterone showed the greatest increases in solubility in STC and MBS systems (2-7-fold) compared to hydrocortisone (no significant change; P>0.05) as lecithin concentration was increased. Overall, MBS systems gave similar solubility profiles to STC. In conclusion, the addenda of MBS and lecithin were found to be secondary to the influence of BS concentration. These data provide a foundation for the design of more bio-similar media for pivotal decision-guiding assays in drug development and quality control settings.     

Interactions between food components and drugs. Part 8: Effect of pectins and bile acid preparations forming stable mixed micelles on transport of quinine in vitro

Interactions between quinine and acetylated pectin, amidated pectin and pectin with blockwise arrangement of the free carboxyl groups as well as interactions between quinine and bile salt preparations forming stable mixed bicelles have been investigated. A diffusion cell with two compartments and an artificial lipid membrane and a filter-grown colon carcinoma cell line (Caco-2) have been used. Depending on structural parameters, pectin preparations diminished the rate of permeation of the drug. Above the critical micelle concentration, the bile salt preparations influence the quinine transport stronger than the pectin preparations. The strongest inhibition of the quinine permeation showed a stable mixed micelle preparation consisting of glycodeoxycholate, palmitic acid and lecithin. The Caco-2 cell line appears to be not as suitable as artificial lipid membranes to study drug transport in the presence of the bile salt preparations.     

Examination of the Sephadex G10 beads uptake method for determination of bile salt monomer concentration in taurocholate-lecithin solutions

Experiments have been undertaken to examine the validity of the method of Ammon and Walter for the determination of bile acid monomer concentrations in taurocholate-lecithin (TC-L) solutions. The procedure involves, basically, the uptake of the bile acid monomer by Sephadex G10 beads (exclusion limits 700 Da) in the presence of a suitable aqueous phase marker (raffinose). Several of the experimental variables involved in the bead-washing technique have been critically studied, and good precision in data (SD in the range of +/- 2-5% of the mean value) has been obtained. Monomer concentrations determined in the absence of lecithin over a wide range (10-70 mM) of TC were found to be in agreement with those obtained by Ammon. Most important, however, is the finding that TC monomer concentrations at constant NMBS were found to be constant in all solutions containing or not containing lecithin [here, the nonmixed micelle bile salt (NMBS) is the total bile salt concentration, but not including species involving lecithin, and is determined by dialysis equilibrium experiments].     

Lecithin in mixed micelles attenuates the cytotoxicity of bile salts in Caco-2 cells

This study was designed to investigate the cytotoxicity of bile salt–lecithin mixed micelles on the Caco-2 cell model. Cell viability and proliferation after mixed micelles treatments were evaluated with the MTT assay, and the integrity of Caco-2 cell monolayer was determined by quantitating the transepithelial electrical resistance and the flux of tracer, FITC-dextran 4400. The apoptosis induced by mixed micelles treatments was investigated with the annexin V/PI protocol. The particle size of mixed micelles was all smaller than 100 nm. The mixed micelles with lower than 0.2 mM sodium deoxycholate (SDC) had no significant effects on cell viability and proliferation. When the level of SDC was higher than 0.4 mM and the lecithin/SDC ratio was lower than 2:1, the mixed micelles caused significant changes in cell viability and proliferation. Furthermore, the mixed micelles affected tight junctions in a composition-dependent manner. Specifically, the tight junctions were transiently opened rather than damaged by the mixed micelles with SDC of between 0.2 and 0.6 mM. The mixed micelles with more lecithin also induced less apoptosis. These results demonstrate that relatively higher concentrations of mixed micelles are toxic to Caco-2 cells, while phospholipids can attenuate the toxicity of the bile salts.     

Mechanisms of Membrane Transport of Poorly Soluble Drugs: Role of Micelles in Oral Absorption Processes

Micelles formed in the GI tract by bile acid and lecithin play an important role in oral absorption of poorly soluble drugs. In this situation, the drug molecules are present in equilibrium between the free and micellar states. In this study, the relationship between the free drug concentration and the membrane permeability of poorly soluble drugs was examined. Permeability across a Caco‐2 monolayer and a dialysis membrane were measured in a side‐by‐side chamber system. The concentrations of sodium taurocholate (NaTC) and lecithin were varied to allow measurement of membrane permeability at different concentrations of free drugs. For troglitazone, hexylparaben, and heptylparaben, an increase in the NaTC and lecithin concentrations caused the permeability across the Caco‐2 monolayer to decrease slightly, whereas the permeability across the dialysis membrane decreased markedly. In contrast, the changes in permeability of griseofulvin with an increased micelle concentration were similar for the Caco‐2 monolayer and the dialysis membrane. Assuming that the permeability for the dialysis membrane reflects the free drug concentration in the medium, these results suggest that troglitazone and alkylparabens, but not griseofulvin, can partition directly from micelles to Caco‐2 monolayers. This mechanism may contribute to oral absorption of drugs that are poorly soluble in water. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 99: 1336–1345, 2010     

Biorelevant dissolution media: aggregation of amphiphiles and solubility of estradiol

Biorelevant dissolution media containing bile salt and lecithin at concentrations appropriate for fed and fasted state are useful when testing oral solid formulations of poorly water-soluble drugs. Dilution of amphiphile solutions affects the aggregation state of the amphiphiles because bile salt is partitioned between the aqueous phase and the aggregates. The aim of the investigation was to study the effect of dilution on the size distribution of aggregates and its effect on the solubilization capacity. Clear buffered solutions of four intestinal amphiphiles (sodium glycocholate, lecithin, monoolein, and oleic acid) and a combination of these were prepared at high bile salt concentration. Micelles in the glycocholate solutions decreased in size when diluted. The addition of insoluble amphiphiles led to bigger micelles with no clear correlation between size of the micelles and amphiphile concentration. Dilution of the two- and four component media caused enlargement of the mixed micelles and formation of vesicles. The solubility of estradiol in the buffer solution was increased with addition of the amphiphiles. A good correlation (R(2) = 0.987) was found between estradiol solubility and mass concentration of the amphiphiles. The results demonstrate that, in the case of estradiol, the concentration of amphiphiles rather than the aggregation state determines the solubilization capacity of the medium.     

A comparison of the permeation enhancement potential of simple bile salt and mixed bile salt:fatty acid micellar systems using the CaCo-2 cell culture model

The aim of this study was to compare the permeation enhancing potential and toxicity of simple bile salt and bile salt:fatty acid mixed micellar systems using the CaCo-2 cell culture model. The effects of micellar systems of sodium cholate, (NaC), and sodium taurocholate, (NaTC), on the permeability of the hydrophilic markers, mannitol (182) and polyethylene glycols (PEGS) 900 and 4000, were assessed. Simple micelle systems of the unconjugated bile salt, NaC, caused greater enhancement of the hydrophilic markers than the conjugated bile salt, NaTC. In the case of NaC systems the enhancement was coincident with excess membrane disruption and toxicity as indicated by altered TEERs, TEMs, MTT values, and, the lack of recovery following removal of the enhancer. In contrast, the NaTC systems were less toxic, and, in the simple micelle form the likely mechanism of enhancement of the hydrophilic markers is via a transient effect on the tight junctions. Formation of mixed micellar systems with linoleic acid (LA) accentuated the toxic effects of NaC. In comparison, NaTC:LA mixed micelles showed superior permeability enhancement versus simple micelles without increasing membrane toxicity. The mechanism of enhancement of NaTC:LA appears more complex and involves a possible combination effect on both the paracellular and transcellular routes.     

Mixed micelle proliposomes for preparation of liposomes containing amphotericin B, in-vitro and ex-vivo studies

The aim of this work was to produce a form of injectable liposomes containing amphotericin B derived from mixed micelle proliposomes. Mixed micelles were derived from a mixture of lecithin/sodium cholate in aqueous media. The solubility of amphotericin B in proliposomes was studied as a function of lipid composition (total lipid concentration, molar ratio of lecithin/sodium cholate), and the dispersion media (pH, ionic strength, presence or absence of human serum albumin), and the temperature. The data show that micelle-->liposome transformation occurs during the dilution of proliposomes containing amphotericin B. These transformations could be followed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Data related to dilution of proliposomes as well, show that under no circumstance there occurs any precipitation that might be assigned to the decreased solubility of amphotericin B. These indicate that the incorporated drug also participates during the transformation of the proliposomes into liposomes. It is thus concluded that mixed micelle proliposomes are prime candidates for the production of a form of injectable amphotericin B in liposomes.     

Using the polymer partitioning method to probe the thermodynamic activity of poorly water-soluble drugs solubilized in model lipid digestion products

The thermodynamic activity of solubilized drug is an important determinant of the extent of absorption of lipophilic drugs from the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, the polymer partitioning method was evaluated for its use in the determination of the thermodynamic activity of lipophilic drugs when solubilized in colloidal digestion products, using drug in dilute solution as a reference ideal solution. The lipophilic drugs griseofulvin, diazepam, and danazol partitioned into a polymeric receiver phase from non-micellar solution as a function of drug lipophilicity. The concentration of drug that partitioned into the polymer was linearly proportional to the concentration of free drug in solution, and this allowed the measured partition coefficient to be utilized as an indicator of the drug activity coefficient. The addition of a solubilizing species such as bile salt micelles caused a reduction in drug activity of a similar magnitude to that predicted from micelle equilibrium solubility data in the identical micellar solutions. The addition of micelle swelling lipids such as lecithin and fatty acids resulted in further reductions in activity coefficient. The ability to measure drug activity in model digestive systems has potential for application in the rational development of improved lipid-based formulations of poorly water-soluble drugs for oral administration.     

Crystallization from Supersaturated Solutions: Role of Lecithin and Composite Simulated Intestinal Fluid

Purpose

The overall purpose of this study was to understand the impact of different biorelevant media types on solubility and crystallization from supersaturated solutions of model compounds (atazanavir, ritonavir, tacrolimus and cilnidipine). The first aim was to understand the influence of the lecithin content in FaSSIF. As the human intestinal fluids (HIFs) contain a variety of bile salts in addition to sodium taurocholate (STC), the second aim was to understand the role of these bile salts (in the presence of lecithin) on solubility and crystallization from supersaturated solutions,

Methods

To study the impact of lecithin, media with 3 mM STC concentration but varying lecithin concentration were prepared. To test the impact of different bile salts, a new biorelevant medium (Composite-SIF) with a composition simulating that found in the fasted HIF was prepared. The crystalline and amorphous solubility was determined in these media. Diffusive flux measurements were performed to determine the true supersaturation ratio at the amorphous solubility of the compounds in various media. Nucleation induction times from supersaturated solutions were measured at an initial concentration equal to the amorphous solubility (equivalent supersaturation) of the compound in the given medium.

Results

It was observed that, with an increase in lecithin content at constant STC concentration (3 mM), the amorphous solubility of atazanavir increased and crystallization was accelerated. However, the crystalline solubility remained fairly constant. Solubility values were higher in FaSSIF compared to Composite-SIF. Longer nucleation induction times were observed for atazanavir, ritonavir and tacrolimus in Composite-SIF compared to FaSSIF at equivalent supersaturation ratios.

Conclusions

This study shows that variations in the composition of SIF can lead to differences in the solubility and crystallization tendency of drug molecules, both of which are critical when evaluating supersaturating systems.

     

Development of novel lyophilized mixed micelle amphotericin B formulation for treatment of systemic fungal infection

The purpose of the study was to develop a stable, controlled release Amphotericin B (Amph B) lyophilized mixed micelle (MM) formulation using hydrogenated soya phosphatidylcholine (HSPC) and bile salts in monomeric form and evaluate it for therapeutic performance and side effects. The MM formulations of Amph B were prepared using sodium deoxycholate (NDC)/sodium taurocholate (NTC)/sodium cholate (NC), and HSPC. The optimization of bile salt: HSPC ratio in the MM formulation was done using 2(4) factorial designs. MM formulations were lyophilized using sucrose as a cryoprotectant and analyzed for per cent micelle yield, per cent drug loading and per cent entrapment efficiency. Comparative in vitro diffusion studies, hemolytic activity, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of developed MM formulations and marketed formulation (Fungizone) were evaluated using cellophane membrane, human red blood cells and Candida albicans respectively. In vivo studies of MM formulations were also carried out on Candida albicans infected white albino rats and compared with Fungizone. The optimized molar ratio of bile salt: HSPC was found to be 8:11. Among all MM formulations prepared, NDC/ HSPC formulation found to have maximum per cent drug loading (4.96+/-0.8%), per cent entrapment efficiency (93.2+/-1.5%) and per cent micelle yield (96.4+/-1.4%). The in vitro drug diffusion studies of developed MM formulations show close to zero-order diffusion kinetics. All MM formulations show improved therapeutic index and reduced side effects compared to reference formulation Fungizone. The NDC/HSPC MM formulation was found to have least hemolytic activity, MIC and mortality rate at all dosage levels. Improved antifungal activity and reduced toxicity of Amph B solubilized in MM may be due to higher cellular uptake of the drug by fungal cells of infected tissues from MM formulations. Hence, Amph B MM formulation could be a safe and effective viable alternative in the treatment of systemic fungal infections.     

Studies on the mechanism of bile salt-independent bile flow impairment in streptozotocin-induced hepatotoxicity.

The main factors involved in the impairment of formation of the bile salt-independent bile flow (BSIF) in streptozotocin (SZ)-treated rats were examined. Twenty-four hours after SZ injection (50 mg/kg body wt, i.v.) bile flow, bile salt output and biliary excretion of the major inorganic electrolytes (sodium, chloride and bicarbonate) were significantly diminished. The relationship between bile flow and bile salt output obtained during the administration of sodium taurocholate at stepwise-increasing rates indicated that bile salt-independent bile flow (y-intercept) was diminished by 37% in SZ-treated rats. The relationship between electrolyte output and bile salt output showed that the fractions of sodium, chloride and bicarbonate excreted independently of bile salt (y-intercept) decreased to 59%, 47% and 67% of the control values respectively, while the amount of electrolyte secreted per unit of bile salt secreted was unaffected in SZ-treated rats. The hepatic activity of Na+,K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K(+)-ATPase) was decreased by 59% (P less than 0.05) in SZ-treated rats. Nicotinamide administered prior to SZ prevented the hyperglycemia indicative of SZ-induced diabetes, but had no effect on the decrease in Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity caused by the drug. These results suggest that SZ itself, and not its diabetogenic effect, decreases the BSIF by a mechanism that involves impairment of the biliary electrolyte excretion, which could be the result of the inhibition of the hepatic Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity.     

Examination of the solubilization of drugs by bile salt micelles

The purpose of this review is to provide a critical examination of the reported solubilization of drugs by bile salt micelles. The underlying premise is that with better information regarding the inherent biological complexity, efforts to predict the oral bioavailability of drug will be enhanced. The common means of comparing the reported values was chosen to be the solubilization ratio. This is equal to the moles of drug solubilized per mole of bile salt. The values were segregated according to bile salt type, temperature, ionic strength, and the presence and absence of added lipids. Only segregation by bile salt type was pairwise statistically significant. From the solubilization ratios and the reported values of the aqueous solubility, the logarithms of the mole fraction micelle partition coefficients, log K(m/a), were calculated. The log K(m/w) was found to be correlated with the reported logarithm of the octanol/water partition coefficient. The rank order of slopes of the log K(m/a) as a function of log K(o/w) was cholate approximately taurodeoxycholate > glycocholate approximately taurocholate approximately glycodeoxycholate, with deoxycholate not being statistically different from the other data sets. The slope and intercept for the bile salt mixed micelle systems were 0.600 and 2.44, respectively, which were statistically indistinguishable from glycocholate, taurocholate, and glycodeoxycholate bile salt data. The existence of statistically significant correlations suggests that predicting the solubilization in the intestine may be possible with in vitro measurements if additional information is gathered in the appropriate micellar solutions.     

The mitigating effects of phosphatidylcholines on bile salt- and lysophosphatidylcholine-induced membrane damage.

The effects, at pH 7.0, of a series of 0.2 mM phosphatidylcholines (PC), namely dicaproyl-PC (DCPC), didecanoyl-PC (DDPC), dilauroyl-PC (DLaPC), dimyristoyl-PC (DMPC), dipalmitoyl-PC (DPPC), dioleoyl-PC (DOPC) and dilinoleoyl-PC (DLPC) and a series of 0.2 mM fatty acid salts (namely sodium myristate, palmitate, stearate, oleate and linoleate) upon the erythrocyte haemolysis induced by 2 mM sodium taurodeoxycholate (STDC) were determined. The influence of egg PC and dihexadecyl phosphate (DHDP) concentration upon the haemolysis induced by 1.4 mM sodium deoxycholate (SDC), 2 mM STDC and 0.1 mM lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) were also established. A bile salt:egg PC mole ratio of 0.5 virtually abolished the haemolysis induced by SDC and STDC, whereas the same ratio of LPC:egg PC only reduced haemolysis from 65 to 40% (maximum haemolysis). DHDP had no effect on the haemolytic action of SDC or STDC. The salts of the fatty acids were non-haemolytic, and when mixed with STDC did not affect the level of haemolysis induced by the bile salt. In contrast, DDPC and DLaPC enhanced the haemolysis of STDC and DCPC had no effect, whereas DMPC, DPPC, DSPC, DOPC, DLPC and egg PC all reduced haemolysis. Maximum reduction was determined for DMPC and egg PC. The mixed micelle preparation temperature (either room or 60 degrees C) and temperature of incubation (either 20 degrees C for 30 min or 37 degrees C for 5 min) had only minor effects on the net haemolysis induced by STDC. These findings may be of significance in understanding the aetiology of certain gastrointestinal diseases and in determining whether mixed bile salt micelles have a role as drug penetration enhancers.     

Stable phosphatidylcholine-bile salt mixed micelles enhance oral absorption of paclitaxel: preparation and mechanism in rats

Abstract

The aim of this study is to prepare a stable phosphatidylcholine/bile salt micelles with Pluronic F127-polyethylenimine conjugates (F127-PEI), d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS), soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) and sodium cholate (NaC) and to elucidate the effects and possible mechanism of micelle components on the intestinal absorption of paclitaxel (PTX) in rats. The results of intestinal absorption revealed that the PTX in SPC/NaC micelles displayed superior permeability across intestinal barrier than free drug and PTX in TPGS/SPC/NaC and F127-PEI/TPGS/SPC/NaC mixed micelles exhibited the strongest permeability across intestinal barrier. These results were also proved by the studies on cell uptake tests. The mechanism was demonstrated in connection with inhibition of the efflux mediated by intestinal P-gp and enhancement of the drug transportation across the unstirred water layer to the endothelial lining, thereby promoting the permeation across the intestinal wall. Pharmacokinetic study demonstrated that the area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC_0→∞) of paclitaxel in F127-PEI/TPGS/SPC/NaC micelles was much greater than that in TPGS/SPC/NaC micelles. This phenomenon deviated from the results of uptake studies by cells and permeability experiments through rat intestine and revealed that the micelle stability had a great effect on intestinal absorption of paclitaxel.     

The novel formulation design of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) type O/W microemulsion III: the permeation mechanism of a poorly water soluble drug entrapped O/W microemulsion in rat isolated intestinal membrane by the Ussing chamber method

We used ibuprofen as a poorly water soluble model drug, to examine the influence of bile salts and mucin layers on the permeability of that entrapped in an O/W microemulsion, in a rat isolated intestinal membrane by the Ussing chamber method. Under the presence of 3 kinds of the primary bile salts such a sodium taurocholate, etc., or a secondary bile salt such a sodium taurochenodeoxycholate at 0.01 mmol/L concentration, a significant difference was not demonstrated in the permeation clearance of the ibuprofen entrapped O/W microemulsion, as compared with the case without the bile salts. Thus, the bile salts did not have a remarkable influence on the permeability of the drug entrapped in the O/W microemulsion, and it was verified that this O/W microemulsion was hardly influenced by the flow of the bile secretion. On the other hand, when N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) with the removal ability of a mucin layer was combined with the ibuprofen entrapped O/W microemulsion at the concentration of 3 and 10 mmol/L, it was shown that the permeation clearance of free ibuprofen did not decrease, but that of ibuprofen entrapped in the O/W microemulsion decreased with the increase of the NAC concentration. Therefore, it is confirmed that the mucin layer participates in the permeability of the drug entrapped in the O/W microemulsion. From these results, the mechanism in which the drug entrapped in the O/W microemulsion is released in a mucin layer, without passing through the route of the mixed micelle formation by bile, thereafter the drug permeates an intestinal membrane, is supposed.     

Light-scattering studies on bile acid salts II: pattern of self-association of sodium deoxycholate, sodium taurodeoxycholate, and sodium glycodeoxycholate in aqueous electrolyte solutions

The pattern of self-association of the bile salts sodium deoxycholate, sodium glycodeoxycholate, and sodium taurodeoxycholate was investigated in aqueous electrolyte solutions by the light-scattering technique. The turbidity of the bile salt solutions was obtained over the concentration range of 0-20 mg/ml at 25 degrees. These data were analyzed according to a monomer-micellar equilibrium model and a stepwise association model. Comparison of the light-scattering data with these models suggests that the monomer-micellar model may be inappropriate. Analysis of the data according to the stepwise association model suggests that the dihydroxy bile salts associate to form dimers, trimers, and tetramers in addition to a larger aggregate which varies in size depending on the degree of conjugation of the bile salt.     

Comparison of the Mechanism of Dissolution of Hydrocortisone in Simple and Mixed Micelle Systems

Lecithin, a major phospholipid component of human bile, is instrumental in the formation of mixed micelles in vivo, with implications for the dissolution and absorption of poorly soluble compounds administered orally. Hydrocortisone, a poorly aqueous soluble drug (S _aq = 1.08 × 10^–3 M), was chosen to compare the rate and mechanism of dissolution in a NaTC/lecithin (mixed micelle) system with its NaTC-only (simple micelle) counterpart. Surface tension, solubility studies, contact angles, rotating disk dissolution rates, and powder dissolution rates were compared for hydrocortisone between solutions containing NaTC/lecithin (4:1) and NaTC-only under conditions representative of the small intestine (0–30 mM NaTC, pH 5.5, 0.1 M NaCl). At all concentrations, the solubility of hydrocortisone in NaTC/lecithin was slightly higher (up to twofold) than in the corresponding NaTC-only solutions. At low NaTC concentrations, initial powder dissolution rates were faster in the NaTC/lecithin solutions than in corresponding NaTC-only solutions. In contrast, at high NaTC concentrations, initial powder dissolution rates in the NaTC-only solutions were faster. Results indicated that in the NaTC-only system wetting effects predominated for dissolution, while in the NaTC/lecithin system, the dissolution rate of hydro-cortisone was enhanced mainly via solubilization.     

Interaction Between Bile Salts and β-Adrenoceptor Antagonists

The interactions between -adrenoceptor antagonists and bile salts were investigated by microcalorimetry. Nadolol and oxprenolol interactions with dihydroxy salts could be described by a 1:1 interaction model with the thermodynamic parameters indicating that the drugs were incorporated within the bile salt aggregates. This weak interaction was primarily hydrophobic although electrostatic attraction also played a role. Atenolol and metoprolol did not interact with the dihydroxy salts. None of the compounds interacted with trihydroxy bile salts or with salts below their aggregation concentration. Phase separation resulted when propranolol and alprenolol were present in dihydroxy salt solutions above a certain concentration with the interaction being of a hydrophobic and electrostatic nature. The implications of these results on in-vivo drug absorption are discussed.