How to Optimize Bioavailability with Hot Melt Extrusion

 

Hot melt extrusion (HME) is a technique that can make drugs work better in the body. HME services are used for drugs that are hard to dissolve; it melts and mixes them with other ingredients called excipients. This makes the drug easier to absorb and increases its effectiveness. Of course, using the right equipment, process, and ingredients is important to make the drug work better. But how can you optimize the bioavailability of your API using HME? This article will show you the methods for improving bioavailability with HME.

Improve Solubility

One of the main ways to optimize bioavailability with HME is by improving the solubility of poorly soluble APIs. By using HME, the API is melted and mixed with excipients, resulting in a homogenous mixture that can result in your desired shape. This improves the solubility of the API and increases its bioavailability.

In addition to improving solubility, using appropriate excipients and other ingredients are important in optimizing bioavailability with HME. For example, excipients such as surfactants, polymers, and lipids can be added to the HME process to improve the solubility and stability of the API. This helps to ensure that the final product is of the highest quality and has the desired bioavailability.

Increase Surface Area

Another way HME services improve bioavailability is by increasing the surface area of the API. When the API is extruded, it is broken down into small particles with a larger surface area. This allows for more efficient absorption and improves bioavailability.

The selection of the appropriate equipment and process parameters is also important in maximizing the surface area of the API. For example, selecting the right screw design, barrel temperature, and extrusion speed can significantly impact the particles' size and the final product's surface area. Therefore, it's crucial to work with experienced HME contract manufacturers with the knowledge and expertise to select the appropriate equipment and process parameters for your specific API.

Taste-masking

HME can also improve bioavailability by taste-masking the API. The API's unpleasant taste can be masked by using excipients and other ingredients, making it more endurable for patients. This can increase adherence and ultimately improve bioavailability.

In addition to taste masking, using excipients and other ingredients can also play a crucial role in abuse deterrence. For example, polymers and lipids can be added to the HME process to make the final product more resistant to crushing, cutting, or breaking, making it less desirable for abuse.

Quality Control

A key aspect of optimizing bioavailability with HME is maintaining strict quality control. At AbbVie, our long track record of quality control, strict regulatory compliance, and operational excellence allow us to complete the manufacturing process by filling your product into sterile syringes or vials ready for market.

Proprietary Hot melt extrusion is a powerful technology that can improve the bioavailability of poorly soluble but potent active pharmaceutical ingredients. By improving solubility, increasing surface area, taste masking, abuse deterrence, and maintaining strict quality control, you can optimize the bioavailability of your API using HME services.

At AbbVie, we are dedicated to providing the best possible service for our clients, and our wide range of services will meet the needs of any pharmaceutical company. Contact us today for more information on how we can help you optimize the bioavailability of your API using HME.