Enhancement of Solubility and Dissolution of Ticagrelor Using SMEDDS by Scheffe’s Mixture Design

The primary focus of this study was to enhance the solubility of Ticagrelor by developing a Self-Microemulsifying Drug Delivery System.Ticagrelor, classified as a BCS class IV drug due to its poor aqueous solubility and permeability, prompted this investigation.To determine the saturated solubility of Ticagrelor in various oils, surfactants, and co-surfactants, HPLC was employed.Excipients were carefully chosen based on their maximum solubility and compatibility with Ticagrelor.Several SMEDDS formulations of Ticagrelor were created using different combinations of oils, surfactants, and co-surfactants (at ratios of 4:1 and 3:1).Pseudo ternary phase diagrams were constructed, aiding in the evaluation of the Nanoemulsification area.Utilizing these diagrams, formulations were designed with varying proportions of oil (Linseed Oil), surfactant (Tween 20), and co-surfactant (PEG-300).From these formulations, one batch was optimized and further assessed through dispersibility tests, self-emulsification time assessments, phase separation and stability tests, thermodynamic stability studies, droplet size and zeta potential measurements, and in vitro drug release studies.The outcomes of this study suggest that the Ticagrelor SMEDDS developed holds promise as a method to significantly enhance the solubility of Ticagrelor.