Supercritical Fluid Technologies for the Incorporation of Synthetic and Natural Active Compounds into Materials for Drug Formulation and Delivery

Abstract

Various active compounds isolated from natural sources exhibit remarkable benefits, making them attractive for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities, which contribute to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, various types of cancer, diabetes, and obesity. However, their major drawbacks are their reactivity, instability, relatively poor water solubility, and consequently low bioavailability. Synthetic drugs often face similar challenges associated with inadequate solubility or burst release in gastrointestinal media, despite being otherwise a safe and effective option for the treatment of numerous diseases. Therefore, drug-eluting pharmaceutical formulations have been of great importance over the years in efforts to improve the bioavailability of active compounds by increasing their solubility and achieving their controlled release in body media. This review highlights the success of the fabrication of micro- and nanoformulations using environmentally friendly supercritical fluid technologies for the processing and incorporation of active compounds. Several novel approaches, namely micronization to produce micro- and nano-sized particles, supercritical drying to produce aerogels, supercritical foaming, and supercritical solvent impregnation, are described in detail, along with the currently available drug delivery data for these formulations.

Development of Cholinium-Based API Ionic Liquids with Enhanced Drug Solubility: Biological Evaluation and Interfacial Properties

“…Although, there are various methods and approaches like salt formation, micronization, nanonization, solid dispersions (supercritical fluid process, solvent method, and spray-drying), lipidic formulation (oils, surfactants, cosolvents, and SEDDS/SMEDDS), hot melt extrusion, and inclusion complexes used for enhancing the solubility of drugs. These approaches do have some disadvantages like limited applicability, lack of controlled release, stabilization during shelf life, manufacturing process and cost, drug loading, and dosage form, which may be a limiting factor. − Utilizing ILs to develop API-ILs not only increases the solubility of drugs but also helps in reducing the manufacturing cost, controlled polymorphism, enhances shelf life, easy handling, controlled release, and can be biocompatible as well.…”

Supercritical carbon dioxide technology in synthesis, modification, and recycling of battery materials

“…So far, there are many reviews on the application of SC‐CO 2 technology in food chemistry, [ 50 ] environmental corrosion, [ 54 ] pharmacy, [ 55 ] and so forth. However, SC‐CO 2 technology used in battery fields is rarely reported.…”

“…[48] Apart from the abovementioned applications, SC-CO 2 also can be widely used in food chemistry, reaction medium, drying aid, and so forth. [49][50][51][52][53] So far, there are many reviews on the application of SC-CO 2 technology in food chemistry, [50] environmental corrosion, [54] pharmacy, [55] and so forth. However, SC-CO 2 technology used in battery fields is rarely reported.…”

Applications and Challenges of Supercritical Foaming Technology

“…The most commonly used foaming processes are intermittent foaming, extrusion, and injection molding. Among them, intermittent foaming is mainly used on a laboratory scale to provide good control over the processing variables [ 6 ]. Supercritical foaming technology is an effective method for preparing microporous plastics, which has been developed rapidly in the past 20 years.…”