Harnessing Microfluidic Technology for Enhanced Solubility and Bioavailability of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs: A Case Study of Nifedipine

Abstract

Poor aqueous solubility remains a significant hurdle in pharmaceutical development, hindering the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of numerous drug candidates. This research explores the application of microfluidic technology to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of nifedipine, a poorly water-soluble calcium channel blocker. A novel microfluidic platform was designed and optimized for controlled anti-solvent precipitation of nifedipine nanoparticles. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized in terms of size, morphology, crystallinity, and dissolution behavior. The study demonstrates that microfluidic processing enables the production of nifedipine nanoparticles with significantly improved solubility and dissolution rates compared to the bulk drug. Furthermore, an in vitro cell culture study using Caco-2 cells suggests enhanced cellular uptake of the microfluidically processed nifedipine nanoparticles, indicating improved bioavailability potential. This work highlights the potential of microfluidic technology as a powerful tool for addressing the challenges associated with poorly water-soluble drugs and improving drug delivery outcomes.