Preface

The book “A Comprehensive textbook on self-emulsifying drug delivery systems” will cater to both pharmaceutical academics and industry professionals involved in the area of Formulation, Development and Research. The book presents a complete insight on self-emulsifying formulations providing an in-depth understanding of the basic aspects and mechanisms of these formulations and details about the current research and development in this field. This book is specially meant for research students and other professionals who carry out their research in the field of development of Lipid-Based Drug Delivery Systems, especially Self-Micro Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems for the oral dosage form.

The major contents of the current book are the following:

• The first chapter is introductory where various techniques of oral bioavailability enhancement such as size reduction, crystal habit modification, complexation, inclusion complex, solubilization with co-solvents or surfactants, drug dispersion with carriers (e.g. eutectic mixture, solid dispersion and polymeric carriers) like micro/nanoemulsions, self-emulsifying drug delivery systems, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers and so on are discussed briefly.
• The second chapter reviews various lipid-based drug delivery systems such as emulsion, microemulsion, nanoemulsion, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, self-emulsifying drug delivery systems, self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems, self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system and so on which are summarized with their pros and cons.
• The third chapter describes the self micro-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) and their applications in various fields such as pharmaceutical (self-microemulsion, cosmetics agents), chemical (analytical purpose, enzymatic reactions, immobilization of protein) and industrial processes (bioseparations by microemulsion, chemical sensor materials).
• The fourth chapter provides an insight into various components of self-emulsifying formulations such as lipids, surfactants and co-surfactants. The fifth chapter provides a discussion on the mechanism and aspects of lymphatic transportation of self-emulsifying formulations. The factors affecting the lymphatic transport of these formulations are also highlighted. Theco-surfactants are major components of these formulations and are described in detail alongwith their functions and appropriate examples. These components are meant for achieving maximum drug loading, minimal self-emulsification time and droplet size in the gastric environment for obtaining maximum assimilation, to lessen the variation in the emulsion globule size and to prevent or minimize drug degradation/precipitation.
• The sixth chapter explains the advantages, drawbacks and evaluation parameters of self-emulsifying formulations along with a brief discussion on marketed self-emulsifying formulations.
• The seventh chapter is focused on Solid-SMEDDS which represents solid dosage formulation with self-emulsification features. Various solidification strategies and types of solid SMEDDS are discussed briefly along with their benefits and drawbacks.
• The eighth chapter provides a discussion on a variety of herbal drugs and conventional pharmaceuticals being exploited for the formulation of SMEDDS. The herbal self-emulsifying formulations containing extracts or volatile and fixed oils such as zedoary turmeric oil, quercetin, silymarin, baicalein, hesperidin, gentiopicrin and so on are summarized in this chapter.
• The ninth chapter explains the pharmacokinetics parameters and in vitro digestion models along with relevant examples for estimation of SMEDDS.

The editors sincerely thank all the authors who have contributed to the successful completion of this book. We would like to thank Bentham Science Publishers for their support and efforts in reaching this book in its final shape.