The　purpose　of　this　study　was　to　improve　the　solubility　and　bioavailability　of　glimepiride　(GLMP)　by　utilizing　hydrotropy　technique.　Meglumine　(MU)　as　a　hydrotrope　could　form　the　stable　complex　with　glimepiride.　The　optimal　glimepiride　and　meglumine　(GLMP-MU)　complex　powder　was　obtained　by　using　lyophilization.　GLMP-MU　powder　was　characterized　by　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectroscopy　(FT　IR),　X-ray　powder　diffraction　(XRD)　and　differential　scanning　calorimetry　(DSC).　The　formation　of　hydrogen　bond　between　glimepiride　and　meglumine　was　confirmed　by　FT　IR.　The　XRD　studies　indicated　the　amorphous　state　of　glimepiride　was　appeared　in　the　GLMP-MU.　The　DSC　results　were　further　confirmed　GLMP-MU　complex　was　prepared　successfully.　Moreover,　the　in　vitro　drug　release　rate　of　GLMP-MU　powder　was　dramatically　faster　than　that　of　glimepiride.　Meanwhile,　the　AUC　of　GLMP-MU　solution　at　an　i.g./or　i.v.　dose　of　5　mg/kg　in　rat　was　significantly　higher　than　that　of　the　glimepiride　suspensions.　Together　our　results　showed　that　hydrotropy　technique　was　a　simple　and　effective　method　to　increase　the　solubility　of　glimepiride.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.