Enhanced bioavailability and efficacy in antimalarial treatment through QbD approach enteric encased inclusion delivery

Aim: In this study, we aimed to prepare enteric encapsulated spheroids containing inclusion complex using quality by design approach. Methods: A Box-Behnken design was employed to determine effects of variables on selected responses. Risk assessment was conducted using Ishikawa fishbone diagram. A model with a p-value was less than 0.5 for being a significant error of model was determined based on significance 'lack of fit' value. Spheroids were formulated using the extrusion spheronization technique and were characterized using analytical techniques. Results:In vitro release was performed in both acidic (pH 1.2) and simulated intestinal (pH 6.8) conditions. Permeability studies demonstrated tenfold enhancement compared with arteether. In vivo studies further validated increase of 51.8% oral bioavailability. Ex vivo studies revealed 3.4-fold enhancement in antimalarial activity compared with arteether. Conclusion: These findings highlight effectiveness of inclusion complexation technique as a viable approach to enhance solubility and bioavailability for drugs with low aqueous solubility. [GRAPHICS] .