Influence of binder type and process parameters on the compression properties and microbial survival in diclofenac tablet formulations

The influence of binder type and process parameters on the compression properties and microbial survival in diclofenac tablet formulations were studied using a novel gum from Albizia zygia. Tablets were produced from diclofenac formulations containing corn starch, lactose and dicalcium phosphate. Formulations were analyzed using the Heckel and Kawakita plots. Determination of microbial viability in the formulations was done on the compressed tablets of both contaminated and uncontaminated tablets prepared from formulations. Direct compression imparted a higher plasticity on the materials than the wet granulation method. Tablets produced by wet granulation presented with a higher crushing strength than those produced by the direct compression method. Significantly higher microbial survival (p< 0.05) was obtained in formulations prepared by direct compression. The percent survival of Bacillus subtilis spores decreased with increase in binder concentration. The study showed that Albizia gum is capable of imparting higher plasticity on materials and exhibited a higher reduction of microbial contaminant in the formulations. The direct compression method produced tablets of reduced viability of microbial contaminant.A influência do tipo de ligante e os parâmetros do processo de propriedades de compressão e sobrevivência microbiana em comprimidos de diclofenaco foram estudados utilizando uma nova goma de Albizia zygia. Os comprimidos foram produzidos a partir de formulações de diclofenaco contendo amido de milho, lactose e fosfato bicálcico. As formulações foram analisadas usando os gráficos de Heckel e Kawakita. A determinação da viabilidade microbiana nas formulações foi feita nos comprimidos contaminados e não contaminados preparados a partir de formulações. A compressão direta confere maior plasticidade dos materiais do que o método de granulação úmida. Comprimidos produzidos por granulação úmida apresentaram maior força de esmagamento do que aqueles produzidos pelo método de compressão direta. Observou-se sobrevivência significativamente maior (

Evaluation of Cedrela gum as a binder and bioadhesive component in ibuprofen tablet formulations

The compressional, mechanical and bioadhesive properties of tablet formulations incorporating a new gum obtained from the incised trunk of the Cedrela odorata tree were evaluated and compared with those containing hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC). Compressional properties were evaluated using Hausner's ratio, Carr's Index, the angle of repose, and Heckel, Kawakita and Gurnham plots. Ibuprofen tablets were prepared using the wet granulation method. Bioadhesive studies were carried out using the rotating cylinder method in either phosphate buffer pH 6.8 or 0.1 M hydrochloric acid media. The gum is a low viscosity polymer (48 cPs), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the presence of a hydroxyl group. Py and Pk values, which are measures of plasticity, showed the gum to be significantly (p<0.05) more plastic than HPMC, and plasticity increased with polymer concentration. All tablet formulations were non-friable (<1.0%), and the formulations containing the gum had a higher crushing strength (130.95 N) than those containing HPMC (117.85 N) at 2.0% w/w binder. Formulations incorporating the gum were non-disintegrating and had a significantly longer drug release time than those containing HPMC. At the highest binder concentration, Cedrela gum formulations adhered to incised pig ileum longer than those containing HPMC. Cedrela gum exhibited better compressive, flow and binding properties than HPMC and is suitable as a bioadhesive and for sustained release of drugs.<br>Propriedades de compressão, mecânicas e de formulações de comprimidos bioadesivos, que incorporam nova goma de mascar obtidas a partir de incisão de tronco da árvore de Cedrela odorata, foram avaliadas e comparadas com aquelas contendo hidroxipropilmetilcelulose (HPMC). Propriedades de compressão foram avaliadas usando a razão de Hausner, índice de Carr, ângulo de repouso e os gráficos de Heckel, Kawakita e Gurnham. Prepararam-se comprimidos de ibuprofeno utilizando o método de granulação a úmido. Realizaram-se estudos de bioadesividade utilizando o método de cilindro rotativo em tampão fosfato pH 6,8, ou meio ácido com 0,1 M de ácido clorídrico. A goma é um polímero de baixa viscosidade (48 cPs) e a espectroscopia no infravermelho por Transformada de Fourier (FTIR) revelou a presença de um grupo hidroxila. Valores de Py e Pk, que são medidas de plasticidade, mostraram que a goma é significativamente (p <0,05) mais plástica do que HPMC e que a plasticidade aumenta com a concentração de polímero. Todas as formulações de comprimidos mostraram-se não-friáveis (<1,0%) e aquelas contendo a goma apresentaram maior resistência ao esmagamento (130.95N) do que aquelas contendo HPMC (117.85N) em 2,0% (p/p) do ligante. As formulações que incorporaram a goma eram não-desintegrantes e apesentaram tempo de liberação significativamente maior do que aquelas contendo HPMC. As formulações de goma de Cedrela aderiram à incisão de íleo de porco por tempo maior do que aquelas contendo HPMC com a maior concentração de ligante. A goma Cedrela apresentou melhor fluxo, compressão e propriedades de ligação do que HPMC e é adequada como bioadesivo e para a liberação sustentada de fármacos

Nigerian athletes’ perspective: Urine doping controls

Athletes who compete may be subjected to urine doping tests after each competition, training session, or at other occasions. Despite the restrictions and penalties, doping still manages to contaminate sports. Africans still have misgivings about anti-doping measures since they believe they were excluded from the regulatory process. The study's goal was to obtain empirical evidence on Nigerian athletes' attitudes toward urine doping prevention, influenced by; athletes' cultural, environmental, and emotional peculiarities. Participants included, 165(21.4 years, ± 2.1) athletes from 10 sports. Participation was voluntary. Mixed methods of quantitative and in-depth interviews were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and testing for differences between categorical variables were calculated using a 2×2 table, chi2 and gamma tests. Findings indicated that; athletes voluntarily submitted to testing, with statistical significance for testing frequency (0.004) and age (0.022), but not for gender difference (0.66). Common themes in athletes' feedback were that their cultural norms were violated, confidentiality, presence of an atmosphere of bias that could damage test results, and conventional doping tests causing psychological pain, suffering and shame. It was concluded that the peculiarity of athletes should be considered when developing global legislation