Objective       To prepare and evaluate the self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) of artemether (ARM)

in vitro

.       Methods       The preparation process of ARM-SMEDDS was optimized by solubility study

pseudo ternary phase diagrams and orthogonal design. Self-microemulsifying time

average particle size

stability and dissolution

in vitro

were evaluated.       Results       The optimized formation of ARM-SMEDDS were composed of ARM 80 mg/g

lauroglycol 90 as oil

cremophor RH 40 as surfactant and gelucire 44/14 as co-surfactant with a weight ratio of 4∶4∶2. The ARM-SMEDDS prepared above could self-microemulsify within 2 min

with a particle size of 61.50±8.66 nm. ARM-SMEDDS was found to be stable up to 3 months at room temperature. The percentage of accumulated dissolution was more than 99.5% within 120 min which was 7 fold compared to ARM.       Conclusion       ARM-SMEDDS has good appearance and stability

and its dissolution

in vitro

is improved significantly.