What method can be used to enhance drug solubility for improved absorption?

Formulating drugs as salts or using lipid-based carriers is a highly effective method for enhancing drug solubility, which is crucial for improved absorption in the body. Salts can increase the solubility of a drug in the gastrointestinal tract. By converting a weakly soluble drug into its salt form, the resulting compound often exhibits significantly enhanced solubility due to the reduced pKa, leading to better dissolution and absorption.

Lipid-based carriers, such as lipid emulsions or nanoparticles, can also improve solubility, particularly for hydrophobic or poorly water-soluble drugs. These carriers help in forming micelles that can encapsulate the drug, allowing for more efficient transport through biological membranes and increasing bioavailability.

While the other methods listed might have their roles in pharmacology, they do not effectively enhance solubility in the same manner. For instance, administering a drug in solid form typically results in limited solubility if the drug itself is not designed for such administration. Increasing pH levels could sometimes alter drug solubility, but it is not a general method used for all drugs and could lead to unwanted effects. Reducing the dosage does not inherently affect solubility; rather, it may simply lower the amount of drug available for absorption