PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY(Є-CAPROLACTONE) MICROPARTICLE BLENDS CONTAINING PROPRANOLOL HCl AND CARBAMAZEPINE

The purpose of this study was to investigate physicochemical properties of poly(є- caprolactone) microparticle blends containing drugs with different solubilities (Propranolol HCl [Pro] and carbamazepine [CBZ]). Microparticle blends were formulated with W/O/W emulsion for Pro and O/W emulsion for CBZ. The Pro emulsion (W/O) and CBZ oil phase (O) were dispersed in an external aqueous phase (W), with dispersion time interval (DTI) of 0 and 60 min. Morphology of microparticle blends were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Particle size mean of emulsion droplets/hardened microparticles were monitored by focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM). Encapsulation efficiency (EE) and in vitro drug release in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) were also investigated. The results showed that the resulting microparticle blends obtained by solvent evaporation method were spherical and having two populations. FBRM data showed that the size of microparticle blends prepared with DTI 60 min and stirring time 4 h was larger than those with DTI 0 min. The encapsulation efficiency were 62.05% to 66.38% for Pro and 70.56% to 73.85% for CBZ in microparticle blends. Drug release in phosphate buffer after 28 days showed that the Pro release (33%) was slower than CBZ release (60%) from microparticle blends with DTI 60 min. This phenomenon was attributed to the interaction of oil phase (CBZ) with hard particles from primary emulsion (Pro), whereby the oil phase had blocked and coated pores on the surface of hard particle from primary emulsion

Impact of dispersion time interval and particle size on release profiles of propranolol HCl and carbamazepines from microparticle blends system

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dispersion time interval (DTI) on physicochemical properties of drug following the incorporation of propranolol HCl (Pro) and carbamazepine (CBZ) within ethyl cellulose (EC) microparticle blends using solvent evaporation method. The first Pro emulsion and second CBZ oil phase were dispersed in an external aqueous phase, with DTI of 0 and 60 min. The morphology of microparticle blends were characterized by SEM. The particle size mean of the emulsion droplets/hardened microparticles were monitored by FBRM. Encapsulation efficiency (EE) and in vitro drug release were also investigated. The resulting microparticle blends were spherical and formed two populations. The particle size mean of microparticle blends ranged from 113.27 µm to 122.42 µm. The EE was 77.28% to 78.64% for Pro and 96.48% to 98.64% for CBZ. FBRM studies showed that the size of microparticle blend prepared as W/O/W (Pro) and O/W (CBZ) system with DTI of 60 min and stirring time 4 h were larger than those prepared with DTI of 0 min. In vitro drug release studies after 28 days that revealed the CBZ release (58.72%) was faster than Pro release (43.16%). Investigation on surface morphology by SEM showed that the second drug CBZ which added as the oil phase in the W/O/W emulsion system had blocked the pores on the surface Pro microparticles prepared from the first primary emulsion, therefore affecting the drug release. This blocking effects of second drug (CBZ) on first emulsion microparticles (Pro) depended on the DTI. This phenomenon is only applicable if the first primary emulsion is W/O/W system

Drug distribution in nanostructured lipid particles

The targeted design of nanoparticles for efficient drug loading and defined release profiles is even after 25 years of research on lipid-based nanoparticles still no routine procedure. It requires detailed knowledge about the interaction of the drug with the lipid compounds and about its localisation and distribution in the nanoparticle. We present here an investigation on nano-sized lipid particles (NLP) composed of Gelucire and Witepsol as solid lipids, and Capryol as liquid lipid, loaded with Dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid used in topical treatment of inflammatory dermal diseases. The interactions of Dexamethasone, which was spin-labelled by 3-(Carboxy)-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxy (DxPCA), with its microenvironment are monitored by EPR spectroscopy at 94 GHz at low temperatures. The mobility of the spin-labelled drug was probed by X-band EPR at room temperature. In order to relate the magnetic and dynamic parameters deduced from EPR to the local environment of the spin probe in the NLP, investigations of DxPCA in the individual lipid compounds were carried out. The magnetic parameters reflecting the polarity of DxPCA’s environment as well as the parameters describing the mobility of the drug reveal that in the case of colloidal dispersions of the lipids and also the NLP DxPCA is attached to the surface of the nanoparticles. Although the lipophilic drug is almost exclusively associated with the NLP in aqueous solution, dilution experiments show, that it can be easily released from the nanoparticle

Nanocrystals for Improved Drug Delivery of Dexamethasone in Skin Investigated by EPR Spectroscopy

Nanocrystals represent an improvement over the traditional nanocarriers for dermal application, providing the advantages of 100% drug loading, a large surface area, increased adhesion, and the potential for hair follicle targeting. To investigate their advantage for drug delivery, compared to a base cream formulation, dexamethasone (Dx), a synthetic glucocorticoid frequently used for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases, was covalently linked with the paramagnetic probe 3-(carboxy)-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxy (PCA) to DxPCA. To investigate the penetration efficiency between these two vehicles, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used, which allows the quantification of a spin-labeled drug in different skin layers and the monitoring of the drug release. The penetration behavior in excised healthy and barrier-disrupted porcine skin was monitored by EPR, and subsequently analyzed using a numerical diffusion model. As a result, diffusion constants and free energy values in the different layers of the skin were identified for both formulations. Dx-nanocrystals showed a significantly increased drug amount that penetrated into viable epidermis and dermis of intact (factor 3) and barrier-disrupted skin (factor 2.1) compared to the base cream formulation. Furthermore, the observed fast delivery of the spin-labeled drug into the skin (80% DxPCA within 30 min) and a successive release from the aggregate unit into the viable tissue makes these nanocrystals very attractive for clinical applications

Combination of co-crystal and nanocrystal techniques to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of poorly soluble drugs

Purpose Solubility and dissolution rate are essential for the oral absorption and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. The aim of this study was to prepare nano-co-crystals by combination of nanocrystal and co-crystal technologies, and investigate its effect, in situ, on increased kinetic solubility and dissolution rate. Methods Co-crystals of itraconazole-fumaric acid, itraconazole-succinic acid, indomethacin-saccharin and indomethacin-nicotinamide were prepared and nano-sized by wet milling. The particle size and solid state of the co-crystals were characterized by optical microscope, LD, PCS, DSC and XRPD before and after milling. Results 300-450 nm sized nano-co-crystals with a stable physical solid state were successfully prepared. Nano-co-crystals exhibited a lower crystallinity reduction than nanocrystals after wet milling. The particle size effect on the kinetic solubility of co-crystals was analysed for macro-, micro- and nano-co-crystals with in situ kinetic solubility studies. The maximum kinetic solubility of nano-co-crystals increased with excess conditions until a plateau. The highest increase was obtained with itraconazole-succinic acid nano-co-crystals with a kinetic solubility of 263.5 ± 3.9 μg/mL which was 51.5 and 6.6 times higher than the solubility of raw itraconazole and itraconazole-succinic acid co-crystal. Conclusions The synergistic effect of nanocrystals and co-crystals with regard to increased kinetic solubility and dissolution rate was proven. The combination of the advantages of nanocrystals and co-crystals is a promising formulation strategy to increase both the solubility and dissolution rate of poorly soluble drugs

Real-time particle size analysis using focused beam reflectance measurement as a process analytical technology tool for continuous microencapsulation process

The online real-time particle size analysis of the microencapsules manufacturing process using the continuous solvent evaporation method was performed using focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM). In this paper, we use FBRM measurements to investigate the effects of polymer type and compare the size distributions to those obtained using other sizing methods such as optical microscope and laser diffraction. FBRM was also utilized to measure the length-weighted chord length distribution (CLD) and particle size distribution (PSD) online during particle solidification, which could not be done with laser diffraction or nested sieve analysis. The chord lengths and CLD data were taken at specific times using an online FBRM probe mounted below the microparticle. The timing of the FBRM determinations was coordinated with the selection of microparticle samples for particle size analysis by optical microscope and laser diffraction calculation as a reference. For all three produced batches tested, FBRM, laser diffraction, and sieve analysis yielded similar results. Hardening time for the transformation of emulsion droplets into solid microparticles occurred within the first 10.5, 19, 25, 30, and 55 min, according to FBRM results. The FBRM CLDs revealed that a larger particle size mean resulted in a longer CLD and a lower peak of particle number. The FBRM data revealed that the polymer type had a significant impact on microparticle CLD and the transformation process

Développement et caractérisation de nouvelles formes pharmaceutiques basées sur des dispersions polymériques colloïdales chargées en principes actifs

L'utilisation de certains principes actifs dans le traitement et prévention de diverses maladies peut être limitée à cause de leur faible biodisponibilité. Cette faible biodisponibilité peut être liée à une solubilité limitée du principe actif et/ou une faible perméabilité à travers les barrières biologiques. La BCS (Biopharmaceutical Classification System), permet de classer les différents principes actifs en fonction de leur solubilité aqueuse et leur perméabilité intestinale. Le but de ce travail est d'augmenter la biodisponibilité de principes actifs peu biodisponibles et appartenant aux classes II et IV. D'une part, des nanosuspensions polymériques chargés en principes actifs peu hydrosolubles ont été préparées et caractérisées. En effet, une faible solubilité aqueuse, empêche le principe actif de se trouver sous forme moléculaire au site d'absorption, limitant ainsi son passage à travers les barrières biologiques. L'augmentation de la solubilité des principes actifs au sein d'un vecteur polymérique permettrait une mise à disposition accrue du principe actif au niveau du site d'absorption et en conséquence une augmentation de la biodisponibilité. L'incorporation de ces principes actifs (celecoxib, diclofenac, econazole, ibuprofène, ivermectine et warfarine) dans la matrice polymérique à permis d'augmenter fortement leur solubilité. Une caractérisation physico-chimique de ces nanosuspensions a été effectuée et des études pharmacocinétiques in vivo ont été réalisées afin de démontrer notre hypothèse. Les résultats obtenus ne permettent pas de confirmer cette hypothèse sauf dans le cas des formulations préparées avec l'Eudragit® RL 30D. D'autre part, un gel d'héparine destiné à l'administration topique a été préparé. Ce gel est obtenu par l'interaction électrostatique entre l'héparine (polyanion) et une suspension polymérique polycationique. Ce gel a démontré une grande capacité à incorporer de l'héparine. Des études de passage cutané ainsi que des études in vivo ont montré que ce gel peut permettre une action locale de l'héparine en évitant ses effets systémiquesCurrently, the poor bioavailability of some drugs may limit their use in clinics. The poor bioavailability can be related to a low solubility of the drug and/or a low permeability through biological barriers. BCS (Biopharmacceutical Classifictation System) allows drugs classification as a function of their aqueous solubility and intestinal permeability. The aim of this work is to enhance the bioavailability of poorly available drugs. On one hand, nanosuspensions containing poorly soluble drugs were prepared and characterised. To be absorbed, the drug should be available in its molecular form at the site of absorption; so a sufficient solubility is needed. The hypothesis of our work is to consider that the incorporation of poorly soluble drugs into a polymeric carrier may increase drug solubility and consequently enhance drug bioavailability. The incorporation of different lipophilic drugs (celecoxib, diclofenac, econazole, ibuprofen, ivermectin and warfarin) shows a great enhancement of drug solubility. Physico-chemical characterization as well as in vivo pharmacokinetics studies have been performed. The obtained results, does not allow to confirm our hypothesis except formulations prepared with Eudragit® RL 30D. On the other hand, a heparin gel destined to a topic application has been prepared. The gel is obtained by electrostatical interaction between heparin (polyanion) and a polymeric polycationic nanosuspension. Heparin has been successfully incorporated into the gel and drug may be delivered to obtain a local action of heparin and thus, avoiding its systemic effectsMETZ-SCD (574632105) / SudocNANCY1-Bib. numérique (543959902) / SudocNANCY2-Bibliotheque electronique (543959901) / SudocNANCY-INPL-Bib. électronique (545479901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Gel Strength of Hydrophilic Matrix Tablets in Terms of In Vitro Robustness

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to correlate the gel strength of swollen matrix tablets with their in vitro robustness against agitation intensity and applied mechanical forces. Five commercial products, i.e. Glucophage®, Alfuzosin®, Tromphyllin®, Preductal® MR and Quetiapin® formulated as water-soluble/erodible matrix tablets were investigated. METHODS: Effect of agitation speed (50–150 rpm) on drug release, hydration/erosion and gel strength was investigated using USP paddle apparatus II. The gel strength of matrix tablets during dissolution at different conditions was characterized by a texture analyzer. RESULTS: Commercial tablets formulated with HPMC of higher viscosity, such as K15M or K100M, demonstrated the gel strength in swollen state >0.02 MPa. In this case, the release mechanism was predominantly diffusional and, therefore, not affected by stirring speed and mechanical stress. In contrast, the Quetiapin® matrix tablet, formulated with HPMC K 4 M in amount of approx. 25%, demonstrated the gel strength dropped below 0.02 MPa after 6 h of release. In this case, the drug was predominantly released via erosional mechanism and very susceptible to stirring speed. CONCLUSION: Sufficient gel strength of swollen tablets is an important prerequisite for unchanged in vitro performance in consideration of mechanical stress