Pharmaceutical applications of solubilisation

A wide range of insoluble dmgs has been formulated using the principle of solubilisation. Only a few representative examples will be discussed in this section. 

Phenolic compounds such as cresol, chloro-cresol, chloroxylenol and thymol are frequently solubilised with soap to form clear solutions which are widely used for disinfection. Solution of Chloroxylenol BP, for example, contains 5% w/v chloroxylenol with terpineol in an alcoholic soap solution. 

Solubilisate Bile salt 10 MAC (moles solubilisate/mole surfactant)  

Nonionic surfactants are efficient solubilisers of iodine, and will incorporate up to 30% by weight, of which three-quarters is released as available iodine on dilution. Such iodine-surfactant systems (referred to as iodophors) are more stable than iodine-iodide systems. They are preferable in instmment sterilisation since corrosion problems are reduced. Loss of iodine by sublimation from iodophor solutions is significantly less than from simple iodine solutions such as Iodine Solution NF. There is also evidence of an ability of the iodophor solution to penetrate hair follicles of the skin, so enhancing the activity. 

The low solubility of steroids in water presents a problem in their formulation for ophthalmic use. The requirements of optical clarity preclude the use of oily solutions or suspension and there are many examples of the use of nonionic surfactants as a means of producing clear solutions which are stable to sterilisation. In most formulations, solubilisation has been achieved using polysorbates 

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