PHARAMACEUTICAL HYALURONIC ACID BASED CARRIERS FOR PARENTERAL USE, PARTICULARLY CONJUGATES WITH TAXOL: A REVIEW

In recent years, drug delivery systems are especially interesting because they allow therapeutic efficiency and reduce side effects. Conjugates of hyaluronic acid and chemotherapeutic agents, especially taxol, have been recognized as excellent solution for many therapeutic indications. The aim of conjugation of taxol with hyaluronic acid was the toxicity reduction on healthy cells and increase of selectivity on tumor cells. Hyaluronic acid could be used in various pharmaceutical preparations, also in parenteral, because of its biocompatibility and biodegradability. Hyaluronic acid as a carrier belongs to in situ gelling systems, which is passing a phase transition in response to external conditions such as temperature, different pH value or the presence of ions, enabling prolonged effect of the drug substances. Many tumor cells have a large number of receptors for hyaluronic acid, which has a great affinity for the tumor cells. The incorporation of taxol in gelling system of hyaluronic acid provides sustained drug release, increased anticancer activity, reduced damage of healthy cells and increased selectivity on cancer cells

STABILITY TESTING OF HERBAL MEDICINES

Nowdays, the use of products based on medicinal herbs (phytopreparates) are in scientific focus, both in prevention or in treatment of various diseases. Herbal products have been recognized as an excellent source of bioactive compounds which have positive effects on human health. Beside teas, as standard herbal products, phytopreparations are much more represented as final pharmaceutical form on the market today. Phytopreparations must satisfy standard quality, which means that they must be physically, chemically and microbiological stable and have a high degree of purity. In order to determine the stability, storage conditions, shelf- life of the products, stability tests are conducted, which involving tests of environmental factors influence: temperature, relative humidity, light. Stability tests are performed at different stages of development and production. In accordance with the EMEA (European Agency for Drugs and Medical Devices) for a variety of herbal preparations different specific stability tests are conducted