[Key technologies in dosage form design of Chinese medicinal liquid preparations: application of component solubility and solubilization technology]

Modern liquid forms of Chinese medicine(CM), such as oral liquid, are similar to traditional decoction, but there are deficiencies in the selection and design of the dosage form, and the solubility of the pre-preparation material is critical. The property system for Chinese medicinal materials(CMMs) was established according to the previous research. The present study established the dosage form design strategy of oral liquid preparations of CM with the solubility as the core, and pointed out the relationship between the saturated volume of component(V_(i-n)) and daily dosage of preparation(V_d) was the key to the dosage form design. To be specific, the prescription can be designed into liquid preparation directly when V_(i-n)≤V_d, while V_(i-n)>V_d, the suitable solubilization technologies are needed. At present, the available solubilization technologies include the addition of excipients such as solubilizers/cosolvents, pH adjustment of the solution, and synergistic solubilization of intermediates and components for the preparation of pharmaceuticals. As reported, the polysaccharides of CM have shown great potential in the solubilization of insoluble components of CM, and they have certain prospects as a new solubilizing excipient.