Development and Characterization of Oral Nanosuspension Using Esomeprazole Magnesium Trihydrate

Background: Nanosuspension has arisen as a lucrative, remunerative, as well as a potent approach to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of poorly soluble drug entities. Several challenges are still present in this technology which need more research. Objective: The prime aim of this research work is to develop, optimize and characterize the oral nanosuspension using esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate as a drug candidate. Methods: The drug nanosuspensions were prepared using both approaches; Top-down and Bottom-up as the combinational approach. Poloxamer 188 was used as a stabilizer in this study. All the important formulation variables, like concentration of stabilizers that may influence characteristics of the nanosuspensions, were optimized. Formulation screening was performed using the optimization process, and the optimized nanosuspension was evaluated for its particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, shape, in vitro drug release and stability. Results: For optimization of drug nanosuspension, the effect of Poloxamer 188 concentration and esomeprazole concentration was investigated and the optimal values were 0.3% w/v and 4 mg/ml, respectively. The particle size of nanosuspensions was in the range of 185 to 1048 nm with varying the zeta potential values from -11.2 to -27.5 mV. The in vitro dissolution rate of esomeprazole was increased up to 3-folds, approximately (92% in 90 min) as compared with crude esomeprazole drug (31% in 90 min) due to the decrease in particle size. Conclusion: The result indicated that the combination of top-down and bottom-up approach used for preparing the oral nanosuspension is a suitable approach for poorly aqueous soluble drug moieties like esomeprazole magnesium.