Formulation And Evaluation of Ezetimibe Nanoemulsion

The main aim of the present study is to formulate and evaluate ezetimibe nanoemulsion to enhance its solubility, stability, and therapeutic efficacy. Ezetimibe, a poorly water-soluble antihyperlipidemic drug, exhibits limited bioavailability, making it a suitable candidate for nanoemulsion-based delivery. Oils, surfactants, and co-surfactants were screened through solubility studies, leading to the selection of Capryol 90, Tween 80, and Transcutol HP as optimal components. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to identify suitable nanoemulsion regions, and formulations were prepared using aqueous titration followed by homogenization. The developed formulations were evaluated for thermodynamic stability, droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, viscosity, pH, drug content, and in vitro diffusion. Among the tested formulations, F2 demonstrated superior characteristics with a droplet size of 97 nm, a zeta potential of –28.3 mV, and drug content of 95.92 ± 0.62%. In vitro diffusion studies confirmed a rapid and sustained drug release profile, achieving 96.5% cumulative release within 60 minutes. FTIR analysis confirmed drug–excipient compatibility without evidence of chemical degradation. The findings suggest that ezetimibe nanoemulsion represents a promising drug delivery system to overcome solubility limitations and improve therapeutic performance.