Preparation and evaluation of a lipid-based drug delivery system to ımprove valsartan oral bioavailability: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis

Antihypertensive treatment reduces the risk of cardiovascular complications in patients with high mortality with hypertension. Valsartan is highly selective antihypertensive that is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, but its oral bioavailability is only 25%. It is absorbed from the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract but is less soluble in this acidic environment. We aimed to develop a lipid-based formulation to produce a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) for valsartan. Solubility studies were performed to identify the components of the SEDDS that provided the best dissolution of valsartan. Ternary phase diagrams were drawn using the titration method with oil, surfactants and co-surfactants in which valsartan was highly soluble, and microemulsion formulations with the highest area were determined. Characterization and in vitro release studies were performed to optimize the formulation. In vitro release profiles of commercial and SEDDS formulations showed the F2 formulation release rate increased at pH 1.2 fasted state simulated gastric fluid. After oral administration, plasma drug concentrations in rats indicate that the F2 formulation provided a 4.2-fold greater AUC for valsartan than the commercial formulaiton, resulting in an 8.5-fold greater Cmax. These findings suggest the F2 formulation increases valsartan solubility, resulting in an improved oral pharmacokinetic profile. According to the pharmacodynamic study, the F2 formulation is more effective than the commercial formulation in restoring systolic and diastolic blood pressure within a few hours.