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(1) Background: Many drugs possess poor bioavailability, and many strategies are available to overcome this issue. In this study, smartFilm technology, i.e., a porous cellulose matrix (paper), in which the active compound can be loaded onto in an amorphous state was utilised for oral administration to improve the solubility and bioactivity of a poorly soluble BSC class IV antibiotic. (2) Methods: Norfloxacin was used as the model drug and loaded into commercially available paper. The resulting norfloxacin-loaded smartFilms were transformed into smartFilm granules via wet granulation and the resulting norfloxacin-loaded smartFilm granules were transformed into norfloxacin-loaded tablets made from paper, i.e., smartFilm tablets. The crystalline state of norfloxacin was investigated, as well as the pharmaceutical properties of the granules and the tablets. The bioactivity of the smartFilm tablets was assessed in vitro and ex vivo to determine the antibacterial activity of norfloxacin. The results were compared to a physical mixture tablet that contained non-loaded paper granules and equal amounts of norfloxacin as a crystalline powder. (3) Results: Norfloxacin-loaded smartFilm granules and norfloxacin-loaded smartFilm tablets contained norfloxacin in an amorphous state, which resulted in an improved and faster release of norfloxacin when compared to the physical mixture tablet. The bioactivity was up to three times higher when compared to the physical mixture tablet. The ex vivo model was demonstrated to be a useful tool that allows for a fast and cost-effective discrimination between "good" and "bad" formulations. It provides realistic physiological conditions and can therefore yield meaningful, additional biopharmaceutical information that cannot be assessed in classical in vitro experiments. (4) Conclusions: smartFilm tablets are a promising, universal, industrially feasible and cost-effective formulation strategy for improved solubility and enhanced bioactivity of poorly soluble drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Numerous oral drugs exhibit limited bioavailability due to their poor solubility and poor intestinal permeability. The smartFilm technology is an innovative approach that improves the drug aqueous solubility via incorporating the drug in an amorphous state into a cellulose-based matrix, i.e., paper. smartFilms can be transformed into a free-flowing physical form (i.e., paper granules) that can be compressed into tablets with optimum physico-chemical and pharmaceutical properties. The aim of this study was to investigate if smartFilm tablets are suitable for improved oral delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs. (2) Methods: Curcumin is a poorly soluble drug with low intestinal permeability and was used for the production of curcumin-loaded smartFilms. The curcumin-loaded smartFilms were transferred into smartFilm granules which were then compressed into curcumin-loaded smartFilm tablets. The tablets were characterized regarding their physico-chemical and pharmaceutical properties, and the intestinal permeability of curcumin was determined with the ex vivo porcine intestinal model. The ex vivo intestinal permeability of curcumin from the smartFilm tablets was compared to a physical mixture of curcumin and paper and to a classical and to an innovative commercial product, respectively. (3) Results: The produced curcumin-loaded smartFilm tablets fulfilled the European Pharmacopoeia requirements, incorporated curcumin in amorphous state within the cellulose matrix and exhibited an enhanced dissolution rate. The ex vivo intestinal permeation data were shown to correlate to the in vitro dissolution data. The ex vivo intestinal permeation of curcumin from the smartFilm tablets was about two-fold higher when compared to the physical mixture and the classical commercial product. No differences in the ex vivo bioavailability were found between the smartFilm tablets and the innovative commercial product. (4) Conclusions: smartFilm tablets are a cost-effective and industrially feasible formulation approach for the formulation of poorly water-soluble drugs, i.e., BCS class II and IV drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]