Improving drug loading of mucosal solvent cast films using a combination of hydrophilic polymers with amoxicillin and paracetamol as model drugs

Solvent castmucosal films with improved drug loading have been developed by combining carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), sodium alginate (SA), and carrageenan (CAR) using paracetamol and amoxicillin as model drugs and glycerol (GLY) as plasticizer. Films were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), folding resilience, swelling capacity, mucoadhesivity, and drug dissolution studies. SA, CMC, and GLY (5 : 3 : 6) films showed maximum amoxicillin loading of 26.3% whilst CAR, CMC, and GLY (1 : 2 : 3) films had a maximum paracetamol loading of 40%. XRPD analysis showed different physical forms of the drugs depending on the amount loaded. Films containing 29.4% paracetamol and 26.3% amoxicillin showed molecular dispersion of the drugs while excess paracetamol was observed on the filmsurface when themaximum 40% was loaded. Work of adhesion was similar for blank films with slightly higher cohesiveness for CAR and CMC based films, but the differences were significant between paracetamol and amoxicillin containing films. The stickiness and cohesiveness for drug loaded films were generally similar with no significant differences. The maximum percentage cumulative drug release was 84.65% and 70.59% for paracetamol and amoxicillin, respectively, with anomalous case two transport mechanism involving both drug diffusion and polymer erosion

Functional physico-chemical, ex vivo permeation and cell viability characterization of omeprazole loaded buccal films for pediatric drug delivery

Buccal films were prepared from aqueous and ethanolic Metolose gels using the solvent casting approach (40 °C). The hydration (PBS and simulated saliva), mucoadhesion, physical stability (20 °C, 40 °C), in vitro drug (omeprazole) dissolution (PBS and simulated saliva), ex vivo permeation (pig buccal mucosa) in the presence of simulated saliva, ex vivo bioadhesion and cell viability using MTT of films were investigated. Hydration and mucoadhesion results showed that swelling capacity and adhesion was higher in the presence of PBS than simulated saliva (SS) due to differences in ionic strength. Omeprazole was more stable at 20 °C than 40 °C whilst omeprazole release reached a plateau within 1 h and faster in PBS than in SS. Fitting release data to kinetic models showed that Korsmeyer–Peppas equation best fit the dissolution data. Drug release in PBS was best described by zero order via non-Fickian diffusion but followed super case II transport in SS attributed to drug diffusion and polymer erosion. The amount of omeprazole permeating over 2 h was 275 ug/cm2 whilst the formulations and starting materials showed cell viability values greater than 95%, confirming their safety for potential use in paediatric buccal delivery

Achieving Organizational Agility through Application Programming Interfaces: The Effect of Dynamic Capability and Institutional Forces

Digital platforms have contributed enormously to the success of businesses. Whereas the Information Systems literature is dominated by digital platform research, less is mentioned about Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), the fiber that connects digital platforms. Critically, the normative literature seems to be silent on how developing economy firms achieve agility through API integration. In addressing these research gaps, this research seeks first to investigate how developing economy firms achieve agility when they integrate APIs. Furthermore, the study aims to understand which forms of institutional forces enable or hinder the API integration process. Philosophically, this study will be approached from a critical realist perspective and will adopt a qualitative method of inquiry

Advanced multi-targeted composite biomaterial dressing for pain and infection control in chronic leg ulcers

This study aimed to develop advanced biomaterial polysaccharide based dressings to manage pain associated with infected chronic leg ulcers in older adults. Composite carrageenan (CARR) and hyaluronic acid (HA) dressings loaded with lidocaine (LID) and AgNPs were formulated as freeze-dried wafers and functionally characterized for porous microstructure (morphology), mechanical strength, moisture handling properties, swelling, adhesion and lidocaine release. Antimicrobial activity of AgNPs was evaluated (turbidity assay) against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus whilst cell viability studies (MTT) was performed on normal adult human primary epidermal keratinocyte cells. The wafers were soft, flexible and elegant in appearance. HA affected the wafer structure by increasing the resistance to compression but still possessed a balance between toughness and flexibility to withstand normal stresses and prevent damage to newly formed skin tissue respectively. Water uptake was influenced by HA, whilst equilibrium water content and LID release were similar for all the formulations, showing controlled release up to 6 h. AgNPs loaded CARR/HA wafers were effective in inhibiting the growth of both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. MTT assay showed evidence that the AgNPs/ LID loaded wafers did not interfere with cell viability and growth. CARR/HA wafers seem to be a promising system to simultaneously deliver LID and AgNPs, directly to infected chronic leg ulcers

3D printed chitosan dressing crosslinked with genipin for potential healing of chronic wounds

Recently, various additive manufacturing (3D printing) approaches have been employed to fabricate dressings such as film scaffolds that possess well defined architecture and orientation at the micro level. In this study, crosslinked chitosan (CH) based film matrices were prepared using 3D printing with genipin (GE) as a crosslinker, with glycerol (GLY) and poly ethylene glycol (PEG) as plasticizer. The 3D printed films were functionally characterized using (tensile, fluid handling, mucoadhesion, drug dissolution, morphological properties and cell viability as well physico-chemical characterization using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. CH-GE-PEG600 3D printed films having the ratio of 1:1 polymer: plasticizer was selected due to their appropriate flexibility. Fourier transform infrared results showed intermolecular interaction between CH, GE and PEG which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction showing amorphous matrix structure. In vitro mucoadhesion studies of CH-GE-PEG600 films showed the capability of the 3D printed film to adhere to the epithelial surface. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the surface of the plasticised films were smooth indicating content uniformity of CH, GE and PEG whilst micro cracks in unplasticised films confirmed their brittle nature. Plasticised films also showed high swelling capacity which enhanced water absorption. Cytotoxicity (MTT) assay using human skin fibroblast cell lines demonstrated that more than 90% of cells were viable after 48 h confirming non-toxic nature of the 3D printed CH-GE-PEG600 films and therefore promising dressing for chronic wound healing applications

Conversion of sustained release omeprazole loaded buccal films into fast dissolving strips using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) processing, for potential paediatric drug delivery

This study involves the development of thin oral solvent cast films for the potential delivery of the proton pump inhibitor, omeprazole (OME) via the buccal mucosa for paediatric patients. OME containing films were prepared from ethanolic gels (1% w/w) of metolose (MET) with polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) (0.5% w/w) as plasticiser, and L-arginine (l-arg) (0.2% w/w) as a stabilizer and dried in an oven at 40 °C. The blank and drug loaded films were divided into two groups, one group was subjected to supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) treatment and the other group untreated. The untreated and scCO2 treated films were then characterised using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, hydration (swelling), mucoadhesion and in vitro drug dissolution studies. Treatment of the solvent cast films with scCO2 caused significant changes to the functional and physical properties of the MET films. The original drug loaded MET films showed a sustained release of OME (1 h), whereas scCO2 treatment of the formulations resulted in fast dissolving films with > 90% drug release within 15 min

Composite fish collagen-hyaluronate based lyophilized scaffolds modified with sodium alginate for potential treatment of chronic wounds

Chronic wounds are characterized by both decreased collagen deposition and increased collagen breakdown. It is reasonable to hypothesize that exogenous collagen can potentially promote wound healing by reducing degradation enzymes in the wound environment and disrupting the cycle of chronicity. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an optimal combination of fish collagen (FCOL), sodium alginate (SA), and hyaluronic acid (HA) loaded with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein fabricated as lyophilized scaffolds. The effects of sodium alginate (SA#) with higher mannuronic acid (M) were compared to sodium alginate (SA*) with higher guluronic acid (G). The SA* with higher G resulted in elegant scaffolds with hardness ranging from 3.74 N–4.29 N that were able to withstand the external force due to the glycosidic bonds in guluronic acid. Furthermore, the high G content also had a significant effect on the pore size, pore shape, and porosity. The water absorption (WA) ranged from 380–1382 (%) and equilibrium water content (EWC) 79–94 (%) after 24 h incubation at 37 °C. The SA* did not affect the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) but incorporating BSA significantly increased the WVTR making these wound dressing scaffolds capable of absorbing about 50% exudate from a heavily exuding chronic wound. The protein released from the composite systems was best explained by the Korsmeyer–Peppas model with regression R2 values ranging from 0.896 to 0.971 and slope or n < 0.5 indicating that the BSA release mechanism was governed by quasi-Fickian diffusion. Cell viability assay showed that the scaffolds did not inhibit the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts and human epidermal keratinocytes, and are therefore biocompatible. In vitro blood analysis using human whole blood confirmed that the BSA-loaded SA*:FCOL:HA scaffolds reduced the blood clotting index (BCI) by up to 20% compared to a commercially available sponge for chronic wounds. These features confirm that SA*:FCOL:HA scaffolds could be applied as a multifunctional wound dressing

Development of polymeric films incorporating amorphous drug

Incorporation of amorphous drugs in formulations can help address current solubility challenges in drug delivery [1, 2]. The aim of the current study was to develop novel polymeric films for buccal drug delivery and to investigate their ability to incorporate and stabilize an amorphous drug