Effects of Surfactants on Suppository Absorption

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Suppositories are the frequently used dosage forms prescribed through rectal route. However, suppositories have the limitation of prolonged onset of action which can be attributed to poor drug release properties of suppository base. Surfactants can increase the drug release to aid absorption by reducing the interfacial tension between rectal fluids and the suppository base. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of different concentrations of sodium lauryl sulphate and tween 80 on the drug release of paracetamol from suppositories of palm kernel base (HAMIN®). Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and tween 80 were used in this study to examine their effect on the drug release from paracetamol suppositories prepared using HAMIN® base by the double casting method. The effect of SLS at concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% w/w in the suppositories was analysed, the percentage increase in the drug release was 26.6%, 28.9%, 37.4% and 84.6% respectively. But at the same concentrations, Tween 80 exhibited higher percentage of drug release than SLS which were by 0.79, 8.9, 10 and 10 folds respectively. It can be concluded that although SLS had increased the drug release from formulated suppositories, it was not as effective as Tween 80. Keywords: Rectal route of administration, Suppository, paracetamol, Sodium lauryl sulphate, Tween 80, HAMIN® base. Introduction Oral route is the most common route of drug administration in daily practice. However, drugs may not be suitable to be delivered orally in some circumstances. Young children, elderly, those experiencing nausea, vomiting and unconscious patients, face difficulty or even unable to swallow the medicines [1]. In these cases, rectal route becomes a good al... ... middle of paper ... ...auryl sulphate (SLS) will be used at different concentrations in the paracetamol suppositories of palm kernel base (HAMIN®) to examine its effect on the drug release and to determine the most favourable concentration of SLS on increasing the absorption rate of paracetamol rectally. Tween 80 is also known as polysorbate 80 or polyoxyethylene 20 Sorbitan mono-oleate. [13] It is an oleate ester of sorbitol and its anhydrides. It is an oily, clear or slightly opalescent liquid with the colour of brownish-yellow or colourless. Tween 80 is considered one of the most commonly used surfactant in the formulation of suppositories. [14] It is a widely used as non-ionic surfactant in the formulation of suppositories over years, it is chosen to be compared with SLS on the rate of drug release at the same concentrations as such study has not reported earlier with HAMIN® base.

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