Drug Release In Media Research Articles

Redox-Responsive Crosslinked Mixed Micelles for Controllable Release of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester.

We report the elaboration of redox-responsive functional micellar nanocarriers designed for triggered release of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) in cancer therapy. Three-layered micelles, comprising a poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) core, a middle poly(acrylic acid)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PAA/PEO) layer and a PEO outer corona, were prepared by co-assembly of PEO113-b-PCL35-b-PEO113 and PAA13-b-PCL35-b-PAA13 amphiphilic triblock copolymers in aqueous media. The preformed micelles were loaded with CAPE via hydrophobic interactions between the drug molecules and PCL core, and subsequently crosslinked by reaction of carboxyl groups from PAA and a disulfide crosslinking agent. The reaction of crosslinking took place in the middle layer of the nanocarriers without changing the encapsulation efficiency (EE~90%) of the system. The crosslinked polymeric micelles (CPMs) exhibited superior structural stability and did not release CAPE in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). However, in weak acidic media and in the presence of 10 mM reducing agent (dithiothreitol, DTT), the payload was released at a high rate from CPMs due to the breakup of disulfide linkages. The physicochemical properties of the nanocarriers were investigated by dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering (DLS and ELS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The rapid release of CAPE under intracellular-like conditions and the lack of premature drug release in media resembling the blood stream (neutral pH) make the developed CPMs a promising candidate for controllable drug release in the microenvironment of tumors.

Cefdinir Inclusion in Mesoporous Silica as Effective Dissolution Enhancer with Improved Physical Stability

Objective: The objective of this research was to enhance the physical stability and the dissolution rate of cefdinir, a BCS class IV drug, characterized by low and variable bioavailability due to both its low solubility and low permeability. Methods: Cefdinir was loaded into the mesoporous silica (SBA-15), by using the solvent immersion method starting from different organic solvents. And then formula (F3), which exhibited the highest loading percentage, was selected to study its drug release in media with different pH (1.2, 4.5, and 6.8), and has been fully characterized by using: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Powder X-ray Diffraction, and has been subjected to accelerated stability tests using different temperatures and relative humidity. Drug release kinetics were studied by using the following models: Probit, Gompertz, Weibull, and Logistic. Results: The results showed a remarkable dissolution improvement of cefdinir from the loaded silica in comparison to the crystalline drug at the different studied media. Drug release behaviors were well simulated by the Weibull model for F3 in all studied media and for pure Cefdinir in phosphate buffer only, and by the Gompertz function for pure Cefdinir in HCl buffer and Acetate buffer. FTIR results showed hydrogen bonds formed between the drug and silica, DSC and PXRD results revealed the transformation of cefdinir into an amorphous form upon adsorption. Stability studies under different conditions revealed the ability of mesoporous silica to maintain the amorphous state of the drug, which has been formed upon adsorption, and to prevent re-organization in the crystal nucleus of the drug molecules. Conclusion: Thus, loading cefdinir onto mesoporous silica can be used as a promising method to enhance drug dissolution, and maintain the physical stability of its amorphous form.

Development and In Vitro-In Vivo Evaluation of a Novel Sustained-Release Loxoprofen Pellet with Double Coating Layer.

This study aimed to develop a novel sustained release pellet of loxoprofen sodium (LXP) by coating a dissolution-rate controlling sub-layer containing hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and citric acid, and a second diffusion-rate controlling layer containing aqueous dispersion of ethyl cellulose (ADEC) on the surface of a LXP conventional pellet, and to compare its performance in vivo with an immediate release tablet (Loxinon®). A three-level, three-factor Box-Behnken design and the response surface model (RSM) were used to investigate and optimize the effects of the citric acid content in the sub-layer, the sub-layer coating level, and the outer ADEC coating level on the in vitro release profiles of LXP sustained release pellets. The pharmacokinetic studies of the optimal sustained release pellets were performed in fasted beagle dogs using an immediate release tablet as a reference. The results illustrated that both the citric acid (CA) and ADEC as the dissolution- and diffusion-rate controlling materials significantly decreased the drug release rate. The optimal formulation showed a pH-independent drug release in media at pH above 4.5 and a slightly slow release in acid medium. The pharmacokinetic studies revealed that a more stable and prolonged plasma drug concentration profile of the optimal pellets was achieved, with a relative bioavaibility of 87.16% compared with the conventional tablets. This article provided a novel concept of two-step control of the release rate of LXP, which showed a sustained release both in vitro and in vivo.

Formulation and in vitro evaluation of polymeric enteric nanoparticles as dermal carriers with pH-dependent targeting potential

pH-sensitive nanoparticles which release in a controlled fashion on the skin or dissolve in the hair follicle could significantly improve treatment effectiveness and make transfollicular drug delivery a success. Dexamethasone-loaded Eudragit® L 100 nanoparticles were prepared by nanoprecipitation from an organic drug-polymer solution. Their toxicity potential was assessed using isolated human fibroblasts. pH-dependent swelling and erosion kinetics of the nanoparticles were investigated by dynamic light scattering and viscosity measurements and its effect on drug release was assessed in vitro with Franz diffusion cells. Stable, 100–550nm-sized dexamethasone-loaded Eudragit® L 100 nanoparticles with drug loading capacity and entrapment efficiency as high as 8.3% and 85%, respectively, were obtained by using polyvinyl alcohol as a stabilizer and ethanol as organic solvent. The nanoparticles showed little or no toxicity on isolated normal human fibroblasts. Dexamethasone existed in the nanoparticles as solid solution or in amorphous form. The nanoparticles underwent extensive swelling and slow drug release in media with a low buffer capacity (as low as 10mM) and a higher pH or at a pH close to the dissolution pH of the polymer (pH6) and a higher buffer capacity. In 40mM buffer and above pH6.8, the nanoparticles eroded fast or dissolved completely and thus released the drug rapidly. pH-sensitive nanoparticles which potentially release in a controlled manner on the stratum corneum but dissolve in the hair follicle could be prepared.

Porosity and dielectric properties as tools to predict drug release trends from hydrogels.

Conventional studies on hydrogel properties such as viscosity, pH and swelling provide information without treating the components of hydrogel, viz., water and polymer individually. Water and hydrophilic polymers need to be studied individually to understand their relationship with each other to relate their influence on drug release. In this context, we have assigned the combination of porosity and dielectric properties as tools to explore the hydrogels. Porosity and dielectric properties have been analyzed using thermoporometry and alternative current impedance measurements, respectively. A well-known hydrogel genipin cross linked gelatin-chitosan (GC) composite, with catechin as model drug has been studied. The increasing concentration of chitosan in the hydrogel composites led to increase in bound water content and incorporation of charge entrapping moieties. Controlled and medium drug release are observed for GC1 whereas the native hydrogels and composites with lower ratio of chitosan yield immediate release and composites with higher ratio effects in slow release for limited duration (9 hours) of drug delivery process. This trend of drug release is in accordance with the results obtained from porosity and dielectric properties where reduction in pore radii to lower range and increase in relaxation time of polymeric components were observed at higher concentration of chitosan. Thus, these properties can be judiciously used for predicting drug release and designing biomaterials according to it.

Non-coated multiparticulate matrix systems for colon targeting

Background: Colon specific drug delivery can significantly improve the efficacy of local treatments of inflammatory bowel diseases. Film coatings containing the starch derivative Nutriose have recently been reported to minimize 5-ASA release in media simulating the upper gastro intestinal tract (GIT), while releasing the drug in a time-controlled manner upon contact with feces from Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis patients. It was the aim of this study to prepare Nutriose-containing matrix pellets and mini tablets in order to avoid a film coating step.Methods: Highly dosed matrix pellets were prepared by extrusion-spheronization, highly dosed mini tablets by compression. Various types of lipids were added and drug release measured in 0.1 N HCl and phosphate buffer pH 6.8, optionally containing pepsin and pancreatin.Results: The type of added lipid and the preparation technique, in particular the curing conditions, significantly affected the resulting drug release kinetics. Glyceryl palmitostearate containing pellets and mini tablets showed the most promising results upon appropriate curing, minimizing premature drug release in media simulating the upper GIT.Conclusion: The proposed novel multiparticulates do not require a film coating step and show an interesting potential for site-specific drug delivery to the colon of inflammatory bowel disease patients.

In vitro dissolution of oral modified-release tablets and capsules in ethanolic media

In 2005, Palladone, an extended-release capsule, was withdrawn from the market after clinical testing showed subjects who took the product with alcohol had increased levels of drug in their blood. To better understand this phenomenon, we studied the in vitro drug release of 27 oral modified-release products in alcohol-containing media. In 40% alcoholic medium, 9 of 10 capsules and 2 of 17 tablets show accelerated drug release. When a high percentage of the total dose is released in a short period of time, the extended-release product is then performing like an immediate release formulation. Products were also tested in 5% and 20% alcoholic media and in simulated gastric fluid (without enzyme) containing 20% alcohol. No tested capsules or tablets exhibited a significant increase in drug release in media containing only 5% alcohol. The current study indicates that in vitro dissolution may provide evidence regarding the ruggedness of formulations to ingested alcohol.

Calcium alginate matrices for oral multiple unit administration: IV. Release characteristics in different media

Abstract The release properties of calcium alginate minimatrices were studied in media of various compositions. Three drugs with different aqueous solubility (paracetamol, theophylline and chloramphenicol) were incorporated as model substances and their release rates were investigated in 0.1 M HCl and water. The theophylline release was also studied in simulated gastric fluid (SGF), simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), 0.034 M NaCl and 0.1 M NaCl. Additionally, the simultaneous liberation of calcium ions from the carrier material into the different media was analysed and illustrated by means of calcium release curves. Only when pure water was applied as release medium were the matrices able to extend the release of the two least soluble model drugs, theophylline and chloramphenicol. In all other media the drug release proceeded much more rapidly, due to various transformations in the carrier material. The cross-linking calcium ions were rapidly discharged from the matrices in the presence of acid, and the carrier material was converted to alginic acid. Although the transformation did not change the morphology or the swelling behaviour of the matrices, it destroyed their ability to provide retarded drug release. In the NaCl solutions and SIF, the calcium ions were partly exchanged by the non-gelling sodium ions or sequestered by the phosphate. This caused swelling and, in the latter case, dissolution of the matrices, and induced a rapid release of the encapsulated drug. Due to the pronounced sensitivity towards the composition of the release medium and the rapid drug release in media of physiological relevance, it was concluded that the minimatrices do not seem applicable as an oral controlled release system.