ABSTRACT
Anette Müllertz Department of Pharmaceutics and Analytical Chemistry, The Danish University of
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
INTRODUCTION
The utility of solubilizing lipid-based formulations for improving the gastrointestinal (GI) absorption of poorly water-soluble, hydrophobic drugs is well documented in the literature (1-6). While the primary mechanism by which these formulations are thought to improve drug absorption is through elimination of the need for preabsorptive drug solubilization by the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), other mechanisms may include protection from chemical and enzymatic degradation localized in the aqueous environment and promotion of lymphatic drug transport, which circumvents hepatic first-pass metabolism (Fig. 1) (7,8).
