Co-solvent solubilization of some poorly-soluble antidiabetic drugs.

Co-solvent solubilization approach has been used to enhance the solubility of seven antidiabetic drugs: gliclazide, glyburide, glipizide, glimepiride, repaglinide, pioglitazone, and roziglitazone. Solubility in water, phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), six co-solvent solutions prepared in water as well as phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and pH-solubility profile of various drugs have been determined at 25 degrees C. Aqueous solubility of various drugs was found to be less than 0.04 mg/mL. Solubility of gliclazide, glipizide and repaglinide increased by 3-6 times by using phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) as solvent. Solubility enhancement by pH modification was not sufficient. Significant enhancement in solubility could be achieved by the use of co-solvents. The combined effect of co-solvent and buffer was synergistic and enormous increase in solubility of sulfonylureas and repaglinide could be achieved. In the case of glitazones, however, co-solvent alone caused significant enhancement; the presence of buffer had negative effect on the solubilization potential of the co-solvents. Up to 763, 316, 153, 524, 297, 792 and 513 times increase in solubility could be achieved in the case of gliclazide, glyburide, glimepiride, glipizide, repaglinide, pioglitazone and rosiglitazone, respectively.