design, optimization and characterization of nebivolol-loaded nano emulsion: a chemically engineered approach for enhanced solubility and stability

Nebivolol, a third-generation selective β1-adrenergic blocker, exhibits potent cardiovascular effects, but is limited by its low solubility and reduced oral bioavailability. this study introduced a chemically engineered nanoemulsion system to enhance the solubility, permeability, and stability of nebivolol. pre-formulation experiments were conducted using uv-vis spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ftir), and differential scanning calorimetry (dsc) to assess physicochemical properties and drug–excipient compatibility. a systematic design approach employing the design of experiments (doe) with a simplex lattice model was used to optimize the three key components: olive oil, tween 80, and peg-400. fourteen formulations were prepared and evaluated for particle size, zeta potential (zp), ph, viscosity, drug content, and in vitro drug release. the optimized formulation (f11) exhibited a mean particle size of 250 nm, a zp of −19.4 mv, a ph of 5.11, and sustained release of 97.42% over 8 h. optimization highlighted the critical role of surfactant-co-surfactant systems in stabilizing the dispersed phase and reducing interfacial tension. spectral and thermal analyses confirmed the molecular integrity and the absence of drug–excipient incompatibilities. overall, this study demonstrated an effective integration of analytical and formulation chemistry to develop a robust nanoemulsion platform with the potential to improve the pharmacokinetic profile of nebivolol.