Chemical conjugation of dexamethasone to a polyaspartamide and in vitro evaluation studies

Two macromolecular conjugates of dexamethasone containing different drug amounts were synthesized using PHEA as the polymeric carrier and a succinic group as spacer. The content of linked drug was equal to 25.3% w/w (conjugate A) and 12.7% w/w (conjugate B). Both polymeric conjugates, unlike the free drug, were water-soluble and the amount of unlinked drug was evaluated to be approximately about 0.01% w/w. Both conjugates were relatively stable in vitro at pH 7.4 whereas in the presence of esterase only the conjugate B was able to release drug under the used experimental conditions. This dissimilar behavior has been attributed to the distinct macromolecular conformations assumed in aqueous medium by the two conjugates with different drug contents. In plasma, both conjugates were able to release drug in the intact form but the release was greater with A than with B. This unusual behavior has been attributed to a different conformational organization of the conjugates in plasma, in contrast to that in the simpler esterase hydrolysis medium used in the study. In fact, the presence in the plasma of proteins and other enzymes, beside esterase, can influence the spatial structure and the hydrolysis rate of polymeric conjugates. Finally, drug penetration experiments through a conjunctival epithelial cell multilayer showed no significant transepithelial transport of dexamethasone linked to the polymer after 120 min of incubation

Evaluation of USP apparatus 3 for dissolution testing of immediate-release products

We sought to evaluate whether U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) apparatus 3 can be used as an alternative to USP apparatus 2 for dissolution testing of immediate-release (IR) dosage forms. Highly soluble drugs, metoprolol and ranitidine, and poorly soluble drugs, acyclovir and furosemide, were chosen as model drugs. The dissolution profiles of both innovator and generic IR products were determined using USP apparatus 2 at 50 rpm and apparatus 3 at 5, 15, and 25 dips per minute (dpm). The dissolution profiles from USP apparatus 3 were compared to those from USP apparatus 2 using the f2 similarity test. The dissolution profile from USP apparatus 3 generally depends on the agitation rate, with a faster agitation rate producing a faster dissolution rate. It was found that USP apparatus 3 at the extreme low end of the possible agitation range, such as 5 dpm, gave hydrodynamic conditions equivalent to USP apparatus 2 at 50 rpm. With appropriate agitation rate, USP apparatus 3 can produce similar dissolution profiles to USP apparatus 2 or distinguish dissolution characteristics for the IR products of metoprolol, ranitidine, and acyclovir. Incomplete dissolution was observed for the furosemide tablets using USP apparatus 3. Although it is primarily designed for the release testing of extended-release products, USP apparatus 3 may be used for the dissolution testing of IR products of highly soluble drugs, such as metoprolol and ranitidine, and some IR products of poorly soluble drugs, such as acyclovir. USP apparatus 3 offers the advantages of avoiding cone formation and mimicking the changes in physiochemical conditions and mechanical forces experienced by products in the gastrointestinal tract