Abstract
Background: The poor oral bioavailability of newly discovered chemical entities and marketed formulations are usually related to poor aqueous solubility or poor permeability, leading to drug failure in the development phases or therapeutic failure in a clinical setting. However, advancement in drug formulations and delivery technologies have enabled scientists to improve the bioavailability of formulations by enhancing solubility or permeability.
Objective: This study reports the enhancement of the oral bioavailability of ibrutinib (IBR), a poorly soluble anticancer drug in Wistar albino rats.
Methods: IBR loaded nanoparticles were formulated through the nanoprecipitation method by utilizing poly lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) as a safe, biodegradable and biocompatible polymer, and poloxamer or pluronic 127 as a stabilizer. Animals were administered with a dose of 10 mg/kg of IBR suspension or an equivalent amount of IBR loaded nanoparticles. Plasma samples were extracted and analyzed by state of the art UPLC-MS/MS technique. Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters and bioavailability were calculated by non-compartmental analysis.
Results: There was an approximately 4.2-fold enhancement in the oral bioavailability of IBR-loaded nanoparticles, as compared to the pure IBR suspension. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax; 574.31 +/- 56.20 Vs 146.34 +/- 5.37 ng/mL) and exposure (AUC; 2291.65 +/- 263.83 vs 544.75 +/- 48.33 ng* h/mL) of IBR loaded nanoparticles were significantly higher than those exhibited through pure IBR suspension.
Conclusion: The outcomes of the present study suggested the potential of PLGA nanoparticles in the enhancement of bioavailability and the therapeutic efficacy of IBR.