6 research outputs found
Effect of physical stimuli on hair follicle deposition of clobetasol-loaded Lipid Nanocarriers
Clobetasol propionate (CLO) is a potent glucocorticoid used to treat inflammation-based skin, scalp, and hair disorders. In such conditions, hair follicles (HF) are not only the target site but can also act as drug reservoirs when certain formulations are topically applied. Recently, we have demonstrated nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) containing CLO presenting epidermal-targeting potential. Here, the focus was evaluating the HF uptake provided by such nanoparticles in comparison to a commercial cream and investigating the influence of different physical stimuli [i.e., infrared (IR) irradiation (with and without metallic nanoparticles-MNP), ultrasound (US) (with and without vibration) and mechanical massage] on their follicular targeting potential. Nanosystems presented sizes around 180 nm (PdI < 0.2) and negative zeta potential. The formulation did not alter skin water loss measurements and was stable for at least 30 days at 5 °C. Nanoparticles released the drug in a sustained fashion for more than 3 days and increased passively about 40 times CLO follicular uptake compared to the commercial cream. Confocal images confirmed the enhanced follicular delivery. On the one hand, NLC application followed by IR for heat generation showed no benefit in terms of HF targeting even at higher temperatures generated by metallic nanoparticle heating. On the other hand, upon US treatment, CLO retention was significantly increased in deeper skin layers. The addition of mechanical vibration to the US treatment led to higher follicular accumulation compared to passive exposure to NLC without stimuli. However, from all evaluated stimuli, manual massage presented the highest follicular targeting potential, driving more than double the amount of CLO into the HF than NLC passive application. In conclusion, NLC showed great potential for delivering CLO to HF, and a simple massage was capable of doubling follicular retention
DESENVOLVIMENTO E VALIDAÇÃO DE MÉTODO ANALITICO PARA QUANTIFICAÇÃO DO VORICONAZOL EM CÓRNEA
Introdução e objetivos: O voriconazol (VOR) é um novo antifúngico da classe tiazol de amplo espectro1 e, sua administração tópica visa o tratamento de ceratites fúngicas. Entretanto, o desenvolvimento de novas formulações se faz necessário para aumentar a biodisponibilidade ocular do fármaco. Para este propósito, é necessário o desenvolvimento de métodos de quantificação e extração do fármaco em córnea suína. Desta forma, o objetivo foi desenvolver e validar um método analítico capaz de quantificar o VOR na córnea. Metodologia: VOR foi quantificado por CLAE -UV (255 nm), com fase móvel constituída por acetonitrila e água (50:50) e fluxo de 1,0 mL/min. O método foi validado de acordo com os parâmetros do FDA2. Para a recuperação do VOR, as amostras brancas da córnea formam contaminadas com diferentes soluções de VOR, secas e extraídas com metanol, após agitação 60 min em chapa magnética. Resultados e discussões: O método se mostrou especifico (não apresentando picos interferentes no tempo de retenção do VOR), linear (y=19,084x + 2,107, r2= 0,999), preciso e exato (precisão e exatidão inferior a 5%). A recuperação do VOR na córnea foi de 84,79% (± 1,34%) para concentração teórica de 20 mg/mL e 86,09% (± 6,20%) para concentração de 5 mg/mL. Conclusões: O método analítico foi validado e o método de recuperação mostrou-se eficaz para quantificação do VOR na córnea
Prevalence of tablet splitting in a Brazilian tertiary care hospital
Background: Although a highly common practice in hospital care, tablet splitting can cause dose variation and reduce drug stability, both of which impair drug therapy.
Objective: To determine the overall prevalence of tablet splitting in hospital care as evidence supporting the rational prescription of split tablets in hospitals.
Methods: Data collected from inpatients’ prescriptions were analyzed using descriptive statistics and used to calculate the overall prevalence of tablet splitting and the percentage of split tablets that had at least one lower-strength tablet available on the market. The associations between the overall prevalence and gender, age, and hospital unit of patients were also assessed. The results of laboratory tests, performed with a commercial splitter, allowed the calculation of the mass loss, mass variation, and friability of the split tablets.
Results: The overall prevalence of tablet splitting was 4.5%, and 78.5% of tablets prescribed to be split had at least one lower-strength tablet on the market. The prevalence of tablet splitting was significantly associated with the patient’s age and hospital unit. Laboratory tests revealed mean values of mass loss and variation of 8.7% (SD 1.8) and 11.7% (SD 2.3), respectively, both of which were significantly affected by the presence of coating and scoreline. Data from laboratory tests indicated that the quality of 12 of the 14 tablets deviated in at least one parameter examined.
Conclusions: The high percentage of unnecessary tablet splitting suggests that more regular, rational updates of the hospital’s list of standard medicines are needed. Also, inappropriate splitting behavior suggests the need to develop tablets with functional scores