Promotion of the selective lymphatic delivery of cyclosporin A by lipid-surfactant mixed micelles.

The absorption of an immunosuppressive drug, cyclosporin A (CsA), with the aid of lipid-surfactant mixed micelles from the rat gastrointestinal (GI) tract and lymphatic delivery were studied. The administration of CsA in oily solution, sesame oil or linolic acid, into the rat duodenum indicated a small amount of CsA both in the plasma and lymph for about 6 h. The administration of CsA in the mixed micellar solution composing of linolic acid and HCO-60, polyoxyethylated (60 mol) hydrogenated castor oil, accelerated the absorption of CsA from the GI tract, and CsA was delivered into the lymphatics with an extremely high selectivity.