Development of meloxicam potassium-containing co-spray-dried inhalation powder with sodium stearate

Pulmonary drug delivery (PDD) has potential for both local and systemic therapy. Our research group is focus- ing on the development of dry powder inhalation (DPI) systems for PDD due to their beneficial properties. Although there is not yet a marketed inhalation product for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), their therapeutic use in sev- eral lung diseases is well established and successful DPI developments have been performed with them. Sodium stearate (NaSt) is a promising excipient for DPI development, but its role in NSAIDs has not yet been investigated. Thus, the aim was to study DPI samples produced by co-spray-drying, applying meloxicam potassium (MXP) as an NSAID drug, and different concentrations (0-2 w/w%) of NaSt. Physicochemical investigations, in vitro lung deposition, and in vitro drug release measurements were performed. It can be stated that co-spray-drying of MXP with NaSt resulted in remarkable morphological differences by increasing the concentration of NaSt, which had a positive effect on cohesive work. Further- more, applying of NaSt accelerates the dissolution in simulated lung fluid (SLF). NaSt as excipient has a future for the formulation of the DPI systems because there are in the development focus the attaintment of the higher FPF values and improvement of dissolution in SLF

Electrospun nanofiber-based niflumic acid capsules with superior physicochemical properties

The aim of this study was to assess whether nanofibrous drug mats have potential as delivery systems for poorly water-soluble drugs. Amorphous nanofiber mats from a model poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), niflumic acid, together with the polymer excipient, polyvinyl pyrrolidine, were prepared by nozzle-free electrospinning. This technique offers a scalable way for drug formulation, and by increasing the surface area of the drug, the dissolution rate and therefore bioavailability of the API can be improved. In this study, both the amount of the dissolved active ingredient and the dissolution kinetics has been improved significantly when the nanofibrous mats were used in the drug formulation. A 15-fold increase in the dissolved amount of the produced amorphous niflumic acid nanofiber was observed compared to the dissolved amount of the raw drug within the first 15 minutes. Capsule formulation was made by mixing the electrospun nanofibers with a microcrystalline cellulose filler agent. When comparing the dissolution rate of the capsule formulation on the market with the nanofibrous capsules, a 14-fold increase was observed in the dissolved drug amount within the first 15 minutes

Aronia Berry Processing by Spray Drying: From Byproduct to High Quality Functional Powder

Svrha je ovog rada bila ispitati mogućnost primjene kruto-tekuće ekstrakcije i sušenja raspršivanjem za dobivanje praha aronije iz prašine nastale pri proizvodnji čaja u filter vrećicama. Pri proizvodnji tekućeg ekstrakta aronije upotrebljena je ekstrakcija potpomognuta ultrazvukom, dok je maltodekstrin korišten kao inkapsulirajuće sredstvo prilikom sušenja. Ispitan je utjecaj ulazne temperature sušenja, vrste i masenog udjela maltodekstrina na učinkovitost procesa i svojstva dobivenih prahova. Također su ispitana i fizička i kemijska svojstva dobivenih prahova. Ustanovljeno je da prah aronije dobiven primjenom ulazne temperature sušenja od 140 °C i inkapsulacijom s 40 % maltodekstrina dekstroznog ekvivalenta od 19,7 ima najbolja svojstva. Povećanjem masenog udjela maltodekstrina smanjili su se udjel vlage, stupanj higroskopnosti i udjel bioaktivnih spojeva, a povećali indeks topjivosti u vodi i veličina čestica praha. Povećanjem dekstroznog ekvivalenta maltodekstrina povećala se higroskopnost praha i indeks topljivosti u vodi, a porastom ulazne temperature sušenja smanjio se udjel vlage u prahu aronije.The main aim of this study is to analyze the solid-liquid extraction followed by spray drying as a technological pathway for utilization of aronia fruit dust, a byproduct of filter tea factory. In the current study, ultrasound-assisted extraction was applied for the production of aronia liquid feed and maltodextrin was used as a carrier and encapsulating agent. In spray drying, the influence of inlet temperature and maltodextrin type and mass fraction on process efficiency and powder properties were observed. The physical and chemical properties of the obtained powders were characterized. It was determined that the powder produced using inlet temperature 140 °C and 40 % maltodextrin with dextrose equivalent (DE) 19.7 had the most desirable characteristics. It was observed that the increase in maltodextrin mass fraction decreases the powder moisture content, hygroscopicity and the content of bioactive compounds, but increases water solubility index and particle size. The increase in dextrose equivalent of maltodextrin increases the powder hygroscopicity and water solubility index, while the increase of inlet temperature causes a decrease in moisture content of aronia powders