SEDDS Technology (Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems)
One of the major challenges in oral drug delivery is the poor aqueous solubility of lipophilic drugs, which results in low bioavailability. Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) are an advanced formulation technology capable of significantly enhancing the dissolution and absorption of poorly soluble drugs.
Definition of SEDDS
SEDDS are homogeneous mixtures of oils, surfactants, and sometimes co-surfactants that spontaneously form oil-in-water emulsions upon contact with gastrointestinal fluids.
Main Components and Their Roles
- Oil phase: Solubilizes lipophilic drugs
- Surfactant: Reduces interfacial tension and facilitates emulsion formation
- Co-surfactant (if required): Improves system flexibility and stability
Mechanism of Action
After oral administration, these formulations mix with biological fluids in the gastrointestinal tract and are converted into very fine emulsion droplets (and in some cases, nanoscale particles). This process increases the drug’s surface area in contact with the dissolution medium, leading to enhanced absorption.
Advantages of These Drug Delivery Systems
- Increased bioavailability of drugs with poor or incomplete absorption
- Reduced dependence on food for drug absorption
- Improved stability of pharmaceutical formulations compared with nanomicellar and liposomal systems
- Ability to be converted into solid dosage forms to enhance stability and facilitate handling and transportation
Applications and Recent Advances
Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems are used to enhance dissolution and bioavailability in oral medications and are particularly suitable for BCS Class II and IV drugs. Considering that approximately 70% of drug molecules currently on the global pharmaceutical market are classified as poorly soluble with limited oral absorption, this technology provides a substantial improvement in the effectiveness of such drugs.
Today, many self-emulsifying systems are developed as SNEDDS (Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems), which form nano-sized micelles in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in markedly improved absorption and therapeutic performance.
Representative Products and Market Examples
Several commercial pharmaceutical products demonstrate the effectiveness of SEDDS in improving drug absorption, including:
- Sandimmune® (Cyclosporine A)
- Norvir® (Ritonavir)
- Rocaltrol® (Calcitriol)
These and other lipophilic formulations designed using SEDDS highlight the system’s effectiveness in enhancing drug absorption.
LiquiCurcugel® Softgel
In the field of dietary supplements and natural products, LiquiCurcugel® softgel, developed by Daru Pharmaceutical Group in collaboration with the University of Sussex, is an example of this advanced delivery approach.
After oral administration, the product forms ~100 nm nanomicelles in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to a significant increase in both the rate and extent of curcumin absorption, thereby improving its overall bioavailability and effectiveness.
American Chemical Society Publications
References (Vancouver Style)
Uttreja P, Karnik I, Adel Ali Youssef A, Narala N, Elkanayati RM, Baisa S, Alshammari ND, Banda S, Vemula SK, Repka MA. Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (SEDDS): Transition from Liquid to Solid—A Comprehensive Review of Formulation, Characterization, Applications, and Future Trends. Pharmaceutics. 2025;17(1):63. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics17010063
MDPI
Tran P, Park J-S. Recent trends of self-emulsifying drug delivery system for enhancing the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. J Pharm Investig. 2021;51:439-463.
American Chemical Society Publications
Salawi A. Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems: a novel approach to deliver drugs. Drug Delivery. 2022;29(1):1811–1823. doi:10.1080/10717544.2022.2083724
Pharma Excipients
Recent advances in self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS): A comprehensive review of mechanisms and technologies. Bentham Science Publishers (publication indexed in PubMed); Date/Authors vary.
PubMed
Bist VL, Faruk A. Recent Advancement in Self Emulsifying Drug Delivery System. Journal for Research in Applied Sciences and Biotechnology. 2025;2(2):191–? (DOI available).