OPTIMIZING ORAL BIOAVAILABILITY OF SUNITINIB: QUALITY BY DESIGN IN NANOBUBBLE FORMULATION

ANJANEYULU PATAMSETTI; KUMAR SHIVA GUBBIYAPPA

doi:10.22159/ijap.2025v17i1.52462

Authors

ANJANEYULU PATAMSETTI Department of Pharmaceutics GITAM School of Pharmacy, GITAM Deemed to be University, Hyderabad-502329, Telangana, India https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2246-1390
KUMAR SHIVA GUBBIYAPPA Department of Pharmaceutics GITAM School of Pharmacy, GITAM Deemed to be University, Hyderabad-502329, Telangana, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2025v17i1.52462

Keywords:

Box-Behnken design, Colorectal cancer, Dextran, Nanobubbles, Sunitinib, Sustained release, Soya lecithin, Palmitic acid

Abstract

Objective: The use of dextran nanobubbles is aimed at function as a delivery system for drugs like sunitinib. These specially designed nanobubbles enhance the drug's solubility, stability, and bioavailability, thus improving the therapeutic effectiveness. Moreover, they offer controlled release characteristics and can potentially enhance drug delivery to tissues or cells, thereby maximizing pharmacological results while reducing adverse effects.

Methods: Drug-loaded dextran nanobubbles were formulated using the emulsification technique and optimized using a Box Behnken design that considered process and formulation parameters. The Nanobubbles characterization includes Particle Size (PS), drug loading, entrapment efficiency, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), X-ray diffraction studies, stability studies, and as well in vitro and in vivo studies in rats.

Results: The optimized nanobubbles displayed a PS of 177.8±5.2 nm, zeta potential of-21.1±0.43 mV, and poly dispersity index of 0.262±0.089. With 69.12±1.41% of entrapment efficiency and 26.29±4.01% drug loading, in vitro studies revealed a superior drug release (99%) with ultrasound versus plain drug (39%). FTIR and DSC studies confirmed no drug-polymer interaction. Scanning electron microscopy images displayed uniform spherical nanosized particles. Stability studies indicated no significant changes after 30 days. The nanobubbles exhibited increased C_max (4.52) and AUC_0-t (5.27), promising enhanced solubility, absorption, and extended half-life.

Conclusion: The current investigation shows that dextran nanobubbles loaded with sunitinib have a promising delayed release potential, which makes them a possible treatment alternative for cancer.

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