Innovation: Production of irvingia lipid-based powders packaged in sachets for reconstitution with water and administered mixed with commercial medicines to improve drug absorption, efficacy and/ or protect the gastro-intestinal surface in the elderly.

Sector/Industry Application: Health

Description: The oral route has always been a major route of drug delivery especially for chronic diseases, but delivery of lipophilic drugs orally presents a major challenge. Many active pharmaceuticals have low aqueous solubility. The limited dissolution rate arising from low solubility usually cause low bioavailability and reduced efficacy. The aim of our research is therefore to improve efficacy and safety of drugs by effectively solubilizing the drugs using lipids derived from nuts of irvingia specie (ogbono). Our research involved formulation of irvingia lipids-based microparticles of artemether (antimalarial), characterization of the preparations and evaluation of the antimalarial efficacy in plasmodium-infected mice. The result showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in % plasmodial growth inhibition and reduced parasitemia.

Problem: Low solubility, low bioavailability and reduced efficacy of drugs necessitates my research which aim to improve efficacy and safety of orally administered drugs