Drug Solubility in Luminal Fluids from Different Regions of the Small and Large Intestine of Humans

The purpose of this work was to study the solubility of two drugs with different physicochemical properties in luminal fluids obtained from various regions of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract and to determine the most important luminal parameters influencing their solubility. Jejunal fluids were aspirated from healthy volunteers via an oral intubation tube. Ileal and colonic fluids were obtained from patients undergoing GI surgery. Stoma fluids were also retrieved from patients. pH and buffer capacity of all fluids were determined. Saturation solubility of prednisolone (unionisable) and mesalamine (5-aminosalicylic acid) (zwitterionic) was measured. Mean solubility of prednisolone in the different luminal fluids was 0.50 mg/mL (±0.05) and did not vary significantly between the different regions of the GI tract (ANOVA, p > 0.05). No correlation between prednisolone solubility and jejunal bile salt content was found. Mesalamine solubility increased down the GI tract: 1.97 (±0.25), 3.26 (±0.08), 6.24 (±...