The importance of lipid-based formulations in addressing solubility and ultimately the bioavailability issues of the emerging drug entities is undeniable. Yet, there is scarcity of literature on lipid excipient chemistry and performance, notably in relation to oxidative stability. While not all lipid excipients are prone to oxidation, those with sensitive moieties offer drug delivery solutions that outweigh the manageable oxidative challenges they may present. For example, caprylocaproyl polyoxylglycerides help solubilize and deliver cancer drug to patients, lauroyl polyoxylglycerides enhance the delivery of cholesterol lowering drug, and sesame/soybean oils are critical part of parenteral nutrition. Ironically, excipients with far greater oxidative propensity are omnipresent in pharmaceutical products, a testament to the manageability of oxidative challenges in drug development. Successful formulation development requires awareness of what, where, and how formulation stability may be impacted, and accordingly taking appropriate steps to circumvent or meet the challenges ahead. Aiming to fill the information gap from a drug delivery scientist perspective, this review discusses oxidation pathways, prooxidants, antioxidants, and their complex interplay, which can paradoxically take opposite directions depending on the drug delivery system.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.