Sweetener-mediated conversion of albendazole into ionic liquid for improved oral bioavailability

Introduction: Albendazole (ABZ) is a basic and highly crystalline anthelmintic drug. Its low and variable oral bioavailability (approx. 5%) due to precipitation in the ileum, mean it is only effective in 33% of patients.[1,2] Ionic liquids (ILs) are organic salts composed of pure anion and cation and exhibit a melting point < 100°C.[3] Sweeteners such as saccharin, cyclamate and acesulfame are FDA approved anions that have been used to form cocrystals with APIs to improve their aqueous solubility.[4] Using ABZ, we present the first API-sweetener IL for improved solubility and thus oral bioavailability.