Ibuprofen nanocrystals: improving dissolution, bioavailability, and scalable production

Ailing Qiao – Team Leader, MyBiotech GmbH; Matthias Jourdain – Project & Innovation Manager, PHOENIX OITB gGmbH; Anamaria Gojanović Rajić – PhD student, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health; Nikolina Peranić – Postdoctoral student, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health; Nikolina Kalčec – Postdoctoral student, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health; Ivana Vinković Vrček – Scientific Advisor Tenure, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health; Nazende Günday-Türeli – CEO, Phoenix OITB gGmbH; Emre Türeli – CSO, MyBiotech GmbH

Introduction: Ibuprofen is a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Its free base form has poor aqueous solubility, causing slow dissolution and limited bioavailability. Ibuprofen salts reach peak blood levels in about 30 minutes versus 50–90 minutes for free ibuprofen, but at fourfold higher cost. Both forms show strong fed–fasted variability due to pH-dependent solubility, with delayed onset and manufacturing limitations. 

NanoIbu is a free-base ibuprofen nanocrystal formulation with no pH-dependent solubility, enabling rapid, consistent onset independent of fed or fasted state. 

Manufacturing was successfully scaled and transferred to GMP, confirming nanopharmaceutical benefits