Evaluation of an oleic acid water-in-oil-in-water-type multiple emulsion as potential drug carrier via the enteral route

• Published in: Lipids Vol. 27; no. 9; pp. 701 - 705
• Main Authors: OBA, N, SUGIMURA, H, UMEHARA, Y, YOSHIDA, M, KIMURA, T, YAMAGUCHI, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.09.1992
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animals; Bile - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Carriers; Emulsions - metabolism; Enteral Nutrition; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Fluoresceins - pharmacokinetics; General pharmacology; Intestinal Absorption; Lymph - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Oleic Acid; Oleic Acids - metabolism; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Rats, Wistar; Water; Drug; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Rat; Potential distribution; Oleic acid; Rodentia; Water oil water emulsion; Fatty acids; Enteral administration; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0024-4201; 1558-9307
• DOI: 10.1007/bf02536028

A water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion composed of oleic acid was used as a carrier of carboxyfluorescein (CF) via the enteral route, as a model for future drug transport. The absorption of CF in the small intestine of rats given the emulsion (W/O/W group) was compared with the absorption in a group administered CF alone (CF group), and a group administered a mixed micelle of oleic acid and a surface-active agent in CF solution (MM group). Higher amounts of CF were absorbed in the W/O/W and MM groups than in the CF group. At 120 min, the amount of CF remaining in the intestinal tract was smaller in the MM group than in the W/O/W group. In the early period, CF excretion into bile was higher in the MM group than in the W/O/W group, but from 120 to 360 min, CF excretion in the W/O/W group was higher than in the MM group (non-specific). The blood CF level was significantly higher at 240 and 360 min in the W/O/W group than in the other two groups. The highest concentration in lymph was found in the W/O/W group. The W/O/W emulsion was considered superior to the micelles because it maintained a higher blood level of CF over long periods and transferred it to the lymph. This suggests that the W/O/W emulsion is applicable as a drug carrier via the enteral route.