Solid SNEDDS · Founded 2024

Furosemide that dissolves better and acts more predictably.

FuroNano is a solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) for furosemide, a loop diuretic with poor solubility and permeability. It turns a liquid nanoemulsifying formula into a powder that releases the drug gradually for a smoother diuretic effect.

See the solutionView the results
116 nmdroplet size from the solid form
1.8×less degradation under lipase
63%drug released over 180 min
Formulation profile At a glance
Drug loadFurosemide in the liquid SNEDDS
53 mg/mL
Solid carrierMicrocrystalline cellulose
1:1 ratio
ExcipientsOleic acid, Tween 80, Tween 20, PEG 400
Lipid based
Why it matters: A sudden spike in urine output is hard to manage; a gradual response is easier to predict.
The problem

A common diuretic with an unpredictable profile

Furosemide is widely used, but its physical properties work against it.

Poor solubility

Furosemide dissolves poorly, which limits how much is available for absorption.

Poor permeability

It also crosses membranes poorly, adding to variable absorption.

Liquid systems surge

Liquid self-emulsifying systems release the drug spontaneously, risking precipitation and a sharp spike in effect.

Our solution

Solidify the nanoemulsion, smooth the response

Adsorbing the liquid SNEDDS onto microcrystalline cellulose keeps the nano-sized droplets while slowing and steadying drug release.

Droplets

Nano size kept after solidifying

116 ± 2.6 nmsolid form droplet size
  • Liquid form: 115 ± 4.5 nm
  • Zeta potential −6.22 ± 1.2 mV (solid)
  • Forms a nanoemulsion on contact with fluid
Release

Gradual instead of sudden

63%released over 180 min (solid)
  • Liquid form: 90% within 30 min
  • Controls spontaneous release
  • Limits precipitation seen with liquids
Stability

Protected from digestion

1.8×less degradation under lipase
  • Tested in a lipolysis model
  • Solid form degraded less than liquid
  • Supports more consistent delivery
How it works

How FuroNano is built

From liquid formula to a solid, predictable dose.

  1. 1

    Dissolve the drug

    Furosemide is loaded at 53 mg/mL into an oleic acid based self-nanoemulsifying mix.

    Oleic acid53 mg/mL
  2. 2

    Add surfactants

    Tween 80 and Tween 20 act as surfactants with PEG 400 as co-surfactant.

    Tween 80PEG 400
  3. 3

    Solidify

    The liquid SNEDDS is adsorbed onto microcrystalline cellulose at a 1:1 ratio.

    MCC1:1
  4. 4

    Test in vitro and in vivo

    Droplet size, release and lipolysis were measured, then the diuretic response was tested in mice.

    LipolysisMice
Results

What the studies showed

In vitro characterisation and an in vivo diuretic study in mice.

115 nmliquid SNEDDS droplet size
116 nmsolid SNEDDS droplet size
90%liquid form released in 30 min
63%solid form released over 180 min
1.8×less lipase degradation for the solid form
Liquid versus solid furosemide SNEDDS
MeasureLiquid SNEDDSSolid SNEDDS
Droplet size115 ± 4.5 nm116 ± 2.6 nm
Zeta potential−5.4 ± 0.55 mV−6.22 ± 1.2 mV
Drug release90% within 30 min63% over 180 min
Urine output in mice, up to 4th h1550 ± 56 μL969 ± 29 μL
Response profileRapid, larger spikeGradual, predictable

Source: Gul et al., Pharmaceuticals 17(4), 500 (2024). doi:10.3390/ph17040500

Who it's for

Who FuroNano is for

A smoother oral diuretic could matter in many settings.

Patients on loop diuretics

  • A more gradual response
  • Fewer sudden surges in urine output
  • Oral solid dosage form

Clinicians

  • More predictable therapeutic response
  • Same well-known active drug
  • Potential for steadier dosing

Generic and formulation partners

  • Simple solidification onto MCC
  • Common, well-known excipients
  • Approach suited to other poorly soluble drugs
Where we are

Where the evidence stands

FuroNano has early in vitro and animal data.

Animal data only

The diuretic response was measured in mice, not in people.

No clinical trials yet

Safety, dosing and benefit in patients have not been studied.

Development ahead

Tableting or encapsulation, stability and scale-up still need work.

The team

The team

Founded in 2024 by the research team behind the solid furosemide SNEDDS study.

SG

Sania Gul

Co-author of the FuroNano research.

SS

Sathvik Belagodu Sridhar

Co-author of the FuroNano research.

AJ

Aamir Jalil

Co-author of the FuroNano research.

MA

Muhammad Akhlaq

Co-author of the FuroNano research.

MA

Muhammad Sohail Arshad

Co-author of the FuroNano research.

HS

Hafiz Shoaib Sarwar

Co-author of the FuroNano research.

FU

Faisal Usman

Co-author of the FuroNano research.

JS

Javedh Shareef

Co-author of the FuroNano research.

ST

Sabin Thomas

Co-author of the FuroNano research.

Frequently asked questions

What is a SNEDDS?

A self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system is a mix of oil and surfactants that forms nano-sized droplets when it meets body fluids.

Why make it solid?

The solid form released the drug gradually and degraded 1.8 times less under lipase, giving a more predictable response.

How did the solid form behave in mice?

It produced a more gradual diuretic response, with 969 ± 29 μL urine up to the 4th hour versus 1550 ± 56 μL for the liquid form.

Is the drug new?

No. FuroNano uses furosemide, an established loop diuretic, in a new delivery system.

Can patients use FuroNano today?

No. It is at the preclinical stage and has not been tested in humans.

The research

Peer-reviewed science behind FuroNano.

Read the full study behind the product.

Read the paper

Gul, S., Sridhar, S. B., Jalil, A., Akhlaq, M., Arshad, M. S., Sarwar, H. S., Usman, F., Shareef, J., & Thomas, S. (2024). Solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems of furosemide: In vivo proof of concept for enhanced predictable therapeutic response. Pharmaceuticals, 17(4), 500.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17040500