Improving relative bioavailability of dicumarol by reducing particle size and adding the adhesive poly(fumaric-co-sebacic) anhydride.

Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA.

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to show the effect of particle size reduction and bioadhesion on the dissolution and relative bioavailability of dicumarol. METHODS: Formulations were produced by a variety of methods including a novel technique to reduce particle size as well as phase inversion with poly(fumaric-co-sebacic)anhydride p(FA:SA) to create nanospheres. Drug was administered to groups of pigs and rats via oral gavage of a suspension, and dicumarol concentration in the blood was measured using a double extraction technique. RESULTS: In vitro results showed improved dissolution in both the micronized formulation and the encapsulated p(FA:SA) nanospheres. In vivo, relative bioavailability of a spray-dried formulation was increased by 17% in the rat and 72% in the pig by further reduction in particle size. The bioadhesive p(FA:SA) formulation also improved relative bioavailability over the spray-dried drug, increasing it by 55% in the rat and 96% in the pig. Additionally, the p(FA:SA) formulation prolonged Tmax and decreased Cmax in both species. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrates the importance of particle size and bioadhesion to improve oral bioavailability of ducumarol.

PMID: 12880296 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]