ABSTRACT:
Self-micro emulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) has been one of the exclusive approaches to improve solubility and increase bioavailability for the poorly aqueous soluble drug. Due to microstructural features of active entity and formulation as a whole, vigorous researches are being carried to explore the significance and possibility of this drug delivery system at present. SMEDDS is an isotropic mixture of oil, surfactant, co-surfactant and water which involves encapsulation of drug into the lipid base and the formulation as a whole have unique ability to form fine o/w emulsion upon gentle agitation. The whole emulsification process requires only little entropy change which is obtained from the peristaltic motion of gut. Due to microstructural features of active entity and formulation as a whole provided by this approach, vigorous researches are being done at present time to interrelate the in vitro results obtained with in vivo responses. Considering the fact that 40% of the newly discovered drugs are lipophilic in nature, it signifies that the study in this approach will continue and more commercial formulation will be made available in near future. This review gives an overview on SMEDDS with sequential demystification thus enabling a greater understanding of their present role in medicine and drug delivery.