Compritol 888 ATO: a multifunctional lipid excipient in drug delivery systems and nanopharmaceuticals

Introduction: Compritol (R) 888 ATO is a lipid excipient that is generally used in cosmetic industry as a surfactant, emulsifying agent and viscosity-inducing agent in emulsions or creams. Based on its chemical composition, Compritol 888 ATO is a blend of different esters of behenic acid with glycerol. Areas covered: Recently, there has been great interest in the multiple roles that Compritol 888 ATO plays in various pharmaceutical delivery systems. Accordingly, this review aimed at summarizing the current and potential applications of Compritol 888 ATO in various drug delivery areas. Expert opinion: Different researches have highlighted the feasibility of using Compritol 888 ATO as a lubricant or coating agent for oral solid dosage formulations. It has also been explored as a matrix-forming agent for controlling drug release. At present, the most common pharmaceutical application of Compritol 888 ATO is in lipid-based colloidal drug delivery system such as solid lipid microparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers. Although, Compritol 888 ATO has acceptable regulatory and safety profiles and although the number of articles that emphasize on its applicability as an innovative excipient in pharmaceutical technology is continuously increasing, it is not widely used in the pharmaceutical market products and its use is limited to its sustain release ability in extended release tablets.