Synthesis of ibuprofen eugenol ester and its microemulsion formulation for parenteral delivery

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of parenteral delivery of poorly water-soluble lipophilic drugs using a phospholipid-based microemulsion system. Ibuprofen eugenol ester (IEE), a highly lipophilic compound, was synthesized from ibuprofen and eugenol, and isolated as an amorphous whitish solid with a melting point at 40.2+/-0.1 degrees C, which structure was confirmed by IR, 1H-NMR and MS spectra. A pharmaceutically acceptable microemulsion system using Miglyol 812, soybean phosphatidylcholine (SbPC) and poly (ethylene glycol) (660)-12-hydroxystearate (Solutol HS-15), and PEG400 and ethanol as oil phase, surfactants and cosurfactants, respectively, was presented and characterized in terms of stability, droplet size distribution (DSD) and their solubilization capacity of IEE. The solubility of IEE in the optimized microemulsion formulation consisting of 6.4% ibuprofen eugenol, 9.6% Miglyol 812, 6% SbPC, 6% HS-15, 8.4% PEG400, 3.6% ethanol and 60% distilled water (w/w) was about 21,000 times higher than that in water. The ibuprofen blood concentration after intravenous administration of microemulsions was determined and compared with that of ibuprofen solution. It was concluded that the presented microemulsion system might be a promising intravenous dosage form of poorly water-soluble lipophilic drugs.     

Characterisation of an extract and fractions of Azadirachta indica flower on cholesterol lowering property and intestinal motility

Azadirachta indica has long been used in traditional medicine. This study focused on isolation and characterisation of active ingredients in the extract, its fractions (NF-EA, NF-AQ, NF-G) and its effect on the cholesterol absorption activity. The NF-EA fraction was identified by marker compounds by LC-ESI-QTOF/MS. Cholesterol absorption activity was performed by measuring the solubility and size of cholesterol micelles. The intestinal motility was also examined by isolated rat’s ileum to test the contraction. The extract and its fractions consist of flavonoids and phenolic compounds, like quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin. We found that A. indica extract and NF-EA increase cholesterol micelles size, while the extract, NF-AQ, myricetin and quercetin, reduced the solubility of cholesterol in micelles. The extract and quercetin inhibited the contraction induced by KCl up to 29 and 18%, respectively, and also decreased CaCl₂-induced contraction. This finding is in support to traditional uses of A. indica as cholesterol-lowering agents and regulator of gastrointestinal motility.     

Fabrication and evaluation of self-nanoemulsifying oil formulations (SNEOFs) of Efavirenz

The current work designed to fabricate and evaluate self-nanoemulsfying oil formulations (SNEOFs) of Efavirenz (Efz) a BCS class II drug with the objective of increasing its solubility as well as in vitro dissolution rate for improvisation of bioavailability. Preliminary screening of drug which includes solubility, emulsifying ability and ternary phase diagrams was carried out to fabricate SNEOFs. Various thermodynamic stability studies were exercised to find out the stable SNEOFs. Robustness to dilution, % transmittance and turbidity, droplet size analysis, TEM study, cloud point measurement, viscosity and refractive index were executed on the stable SNEOFs to characterize the delivery system. FTIR study was adopted for the compatibility of the additives with the drug. In vitro release profiles of SNEOFs compared with Efz, percent dissolution efficiency (DE) and dissolution half-life (t₅₀) were evaluated. A low percent DE (30.12%) and high t₅₀ was obtained for Efz whereas all SNEOFs showed a DE of greater than 78.48% and less than 9?min t₅₀. The optimized SNEOFs (F8) demonstrated a significant (p?<?0.05) increase in bioavailability over Efz. Thus the designed optimized delivery system could be instrumental in increasing aqueous solubility of Efz, improving its release performance and enhancement of oral absorption.     

Systemes eau/surfactant ionique/alcool/hydrocarbure Influence de la nature de l'alcool sur la configuration du domaine de microémulsion et les propriétés de transport des microémulsions

The realms-of existence of water/sodium dodecylsulfate/C₄ to C₇ n-alkanols/n- dodecane monophasic, stable, fluid, transparent and isotropic media, (so-called microemulsions), were determined, atT=25 C, for different values of the surfactant/ alcohol mass ratiok _m. It was found that the configuration of the microemulsion domain in the system phase tetrahedron depends tightly upon that of the mutual solubility area of water, surfactant and alcohol. It has been possible to establish a general correlation between microemulsion domain configuration and microemulsion transport properties such as viscosity and electrical conductivity.

     

Solubilization, microstructure, and thermodynamics of fully dilutable U-type Brij microemulsion

A U-type microemulsion of Brij 96 has been characterized with respect to the change in cosurfactant, oil chain length on dilution, water solubility, and water solubilization capacity. The phase behavior of the systems has been mapped with different oils. Several techniques, viz., conductivity, optical microscopy, dilution method, absorption, and FT-IR spectroscopy, have been used for microemulsion analysis. The equilibrium within the microemulsion droplets and liquid crystals has been visualized using optical microscopy. The microemulsions have evidenced volume-induced conductance percolation in all the cosurfactants (n₂–n₆ alcohols). The energetics of transfer of alcohol from the bulk oil to the interface has been determined through dilution method. To gain insight into the microenvironment of microemulsion, two optical probes, hydrophilic (Methyl orange) and hydrophobic (Nile red), have been utilized in absorption spectroscopy. Lastly, FT-IR has been explored to observe the state and dissolution behavior of water with increasing weight fraction.     

Polymer combination increased both physical stability and oral absorption of solid dispersions containing a low glass transition temperature drug: physicochemical characterization and in vivo study

The purpose of this study was establishing a solid dispersion formulation containing a low glass transition temperature (T(g)) and poorly water-soluble drug. Drug/polymer blends with differing physicochemical stabilities and oral absorption were prepared from copolyvidone (PVP-VA), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) by a hot melt extrusion. HPMC drastically increased the drug oral absorption property, while PVP-VA or PVP stabilized solid dispersions during storage by increasing the T(g) in proportion to polymer concentration. Experimental T(g) values corresponded closely with theoretical T(g) values; indeed, the T(g) values of solid dispersion with HPMC did not increase significantly compared to the T(g) value for the drug alone. A solid dispersion formulation incorporating two different polymers-HPMC and either PVP-VA or PVP-maintained increased T(g), physicochemical stability, solubility, and bioavailability of the solid dispresions owing to each polymer. These findings suggested that both oral absorption and physicochemical stability of low-T(g) drug will be improved using less amount of solid dispersion of combined two polymers than polymer alone.     

Hydrotrope Action of Vitamin C (VC) and Its Application in a Sunscreen

The solubility regions of the sunscreen 2-ethyIhexyl p-methoxycinnamate (E557) in the CTAB/ n-CsHnOH/ H₂ O system with and without the hydrotrope agent vitamin C (VC) are determined. E357 was only sohibilized in the bicontinuous microemulsion (BI), the W/ O microemulsion area and the lamellar liquid crystal region (LLC). The addition of VC in the system greatly enlarged the solubility amount of E₅₅₇in the bicontinuous region, but reduced h in the lamellar liquid crystal area. Small angle X-ray diffraction measurement was used to determine the location of E₅₅₇ in the lamellar liquid crystal showing the suncreen molecule penetrating between the hydrocarbon chains in the liquid crystal structure.The UV absorption spectra of E557 in various media was measured, surprisingly showing a dependence on the colloidal structure.     

N-tributyltin mesylimide—a new water-soluble fungicide

In addition to the known water-soluble tributyltin compounds, N-tributyltin mesylimide [Bu₃SnN-(SO₂Me₂)₂] was prepared and proposed as a fungicide for water-based preservative formulations. The aqueous solubility of the new compound is in the range of 11.0–11.4% w/w at 25 °C and its activity towards moulds (Aspergillus niger) is near that for tributyltin oxide. The compound has an average toxicity (LD₅₀=740 mg kg^?1).     

Hydrotrope‐Solubilization Action of Urea in CTAB/n‐C5H11‐OH/H2O System

Urea can enhance the aqueous solubility of surfactant CTAB (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide) when it shows the hydrotrope action. It will show the hydrotrope‐solubilization action when the solubilized amount of n‐C₅H₁₁OH in O/W microemulsion and that of water in W/O microemulsion are increased. The mechanism of the hydrotrope‐solubilization action of urea is the increase of the stability of W/O and O/W microemulsion and structural transition from the lamellar liquid crystalline phase to the bicontinuous structure.     

Quercetin-PVP K25 solid dispersions

Quercetin is a flavonoid very well studied and has already entered clinical trials emerging as prospective anticancer drug candidate. In addition, quercetin has being reported to its free-radical scavenging activity and suggests potential uses for the prevention and treatment of pathologies as atherosclerosis, chronic inflammation, and others. However, quercetin is sparingly soluble in water, which may be responsible for its limited absorption upon oral administration. The solid dispersion of quercetin with polyvinylpyrrolidone Kollidon^® 25 (PVP K25) suggests an interesting way to increase quercetin solubility, antioxidant activity, and consequently bioavailability. Then, the purpose of this study was to prepare solid dispersions of quercetin with PVP K25 and evaluate their thermal characterization, antioxidant activity and quercetin improvement solubility. For this purpose, quercetin-PVP K25 solutions were dried and quercetin-PVP K25 solids were obtained. The formation of quercetin-PVP K25 solid dispersion was evaluated by solubility studies, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), and antioxidant activity. It was observed that PVP K25 was able to provide quercetin clear aqueous solutions and that quercetin solubility was increased in a PVP K25 concentration dependent manner, improving solubility even 436-fold the pure quercetin. The results obtained with XRD, FT-IR, DSC, and TG demonstrated possible quercetin-PVP K25 solid dispersion formation. Besides, the antioxidant activity of the quercetin-PVP K25 solid dispersions dissolved in aqueous solution and pure quercetin dissolved in methanol showed IC₅₀ value of 0.61 ± 0.03 and 1.00 ± 0.02 μg/mL, respectively, demonstrating that the solid dispersions presented a significant increase in antioxidant activity (P < 0.05). Putting results together, it was possible to conclude there was the formation of quercetin-PVP K25 solid dispersion.     

Efficient topical delivery of chlorogenic acid by an oil-in-water microemulsion to protect skin against UV-induced damage

We examined the intradermal delivery of a hydrophilic polyphenol chlorogenic acid by in vitro study using excised guinea pig dorsal skin and Yucatan micropig skin. Skin accumulation as well as the solubility of chlorogenic acid in aqueous vehicles was much greater than for other polyphenols such as quercetin and genistein. However, since enhancement of skin delivery seemed to be necessary to exhibit its protective effects against oxidative damage of skin, we examined the effects of microemulsions as vehicles. Using microemulsions consisting of 150 mM NaCl solution, isopropyl myristate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and ethanol, skin accumulation as well as solubility of chlorogenic acid further increased. Enhancement effect of an oil-in-water (o/w-type) microemulsion was greater than that of a water-in-oil (w/o-type) microemulsion possibly due to the greater increase in solubility. This finding was quite different from previous findings on relatively hydrophobic polyphenols such as quercetin and genistein. Pretreatment of guinea pig dorsal skin with chlorogenic acid containing microemulsion gel prevented erythema formation induced by UV irradiation. These findings indicate the potential use of hydrophilic chlorogenic acid with o/w-type microemulsion as a vehicle to protect skin against UV-induced oxidative damage.     

Glyceric Prodrug of Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA): Novozym 435-Catalyzed Synthesis of UDCA-Monoglyceride

Bile acids (BAs) are a family of steroids synthesized from cholesterol in the liver. Among bile acids, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the drug of choice for treating primary biliary cirrhosis and dissolving cholesterol gallstones. The clinical effectiveness of UDCA includes its choleretic activity, the capability to inhibit hydrophobic bile acid absorption by the intestine under cholestatic conditions, reducing cholangiocyte injury, stimulation of impaired biliary output, and inhibition of hepatocyte apoptosis. Despite its clinical effectiveness, UDCA is poorly soluble in the gastro-duodeno-jejunal contents, and pharmacological doses of UDCA are not readily soluble in the stomach and intestine, resulting in incomplete absorption. Indeed, the solubility of 20 mg/L greatly limits the bioavailability of UDCA. Since the bioavailability of drug products plays a critical role in the design of oral administration dosages, we investigated the enzymatic esterification of UDCA as a strategy of hydrophilization. Therefore, we decided to enzymatically synthesize a glyceric ester of UDCA bile acid to produce a more water-soluble molecule. The esterification reactions between UDCA and glycerol were performed with an immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) in solvent-free and solvent-assisted systems. The characterization of the UDCA-monoglyceride, enzymatically synthesized, has been performed by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, IR, and MS spectroscopy.     

Dissipative Particle Dynamics Study of Interfacial Properties and the Effects of Nonionic Surfactants on Hydrocarbon/Water Microemulsions

The aim of this work was to apply dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) mesoscopic simulations to study the interfacial orientation and the effect of the nonionic surfactant, hexaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C₁₂E₆), on different (oil (dodecane)/water) microemulsion systems. The Hildebrand-solubility-parameter model and Flory–Huggins/Hansen-solubility-parameter (FH/HSP) model were combined to evaluate the DPD interaction parameter (a_ij) where the solubility parameters (δ_i) as DPD input parameters were preliminary validated by all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) results and experimental data. The interfacial property dependence of dodecane/water/C₁₂E₆ system on the oil/water (o/w) ratio and on the concentration of surfactant and orientation at the interface were investigated. It was found that the surfactant addition reduced the IFT of o/w interfaces and this reduction was more efficient for water-in-oil microemulsions (o/w ≤ 1).     

青霉素G钾盐对SDS水溶液物理化学性质的影响及其在SDS/n-C5H11OH/H2O体系中的释放

The effects of penicillin potassium salt （PenK） on the solubility, Krafft temperature TK, critical micelle concentration CMC of SDS micelle and the phase behavior of SDS/n-C5H11OH/H2O system were studied. The partial phase diagrams of SDS/PenK/H2O system at different temperatures were determined. The release amounts of PenK in SDS/n-C5H11OH/H2O system and the distribution coefficient of PenK between micelle and water were measured by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results show that in the presence of PenK, the CMC of SDS was decreased while the TK of SDS was increased and the solubility of SDS in both water and SDS/n-C5H11OH/H2O oil in water （O/W） microemulsion was decreased, but increased in water in oil （W/O） microemulsion. SDS micelles and SDS/n- C5H11OH/H20 O/W microemulsion could accelerate the release rate of PenK. The addition of SDS and water could both increase the release rate of PenK, whereas the presence of n-C5H11OH reduced the release rate of PenK. The above results were related to the electrostatic repulsion between PenK and SDS.     

Hydrolysis of Cephanone in SDS／n－C5H11OH／H2O System

The hydrolysis of cephanone in SDS micelle and SDS/n-C5H11-OH/H2O O/W microemulsion was studied through Uv-vis ab-sorption spectroscopy. The change of pH value in the hydrolysis of cephanone was determined. The result shows that pH value decreases in the process of the hydrolysis, and that the SDS ml-celle and SDS/n-C5H11OH/H2O O/W microemulsion accelerate the hydrolysis of cephanone compared with water.     

Effect of self-aggregation of γ-cyclodextrin on drug solubilization

The purpose of this study was to investigate the physicochemical properties of drug-saturated aqueous cyclodextrin (CD) solutions. Phase solubility profiles of different drugs were determined in aqueous solutions containing γ-cyclodextrin (γCD) and/or hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin (HPγCD) in absence or presence of water-soluble polymers. ¹H-NMR and turbidity analysis were performed as well as permeation studies. Phase solubility diagrams showed that the observed γCD content (1–20% w/v) was only slightly different from the theoretical values for aqueous solutions that had been saturated with indomethacin, diclofenac sodium or amphotericin B, all displayed A-type profiles, while it was less than the theoretical value in solutions that had been saturated with corticosteroids (hydrocortisone and dexamethasone) that displayed B_S-type profiles. In the latter case self-assemble of drug/CD complexes decreased the overall CD solubility. Water-soluble polymers enhanced aqueous solubility of the drugs tested by stabilizing the drug/CD complexes, i.e. enhancing their stability constants, without affecting the observed aqueous γCD solubility. When the drug solubility leveled off (the B_S-type profiles) the amount of dissolved γCD increased and approached the theoretical values. Hydrocortisone formed partial inclusion complex with γCD and HPγCD and no non-inclusion or aggregates could be detected in diluted solutions by ¹H-NMR. Both permeation and turbidity studies showed that formation of dexamethasone/γCD complex promoted CD aggregation. All these observations indicate that CD aggregate formations play a role in CD solubilization of lipophilic and poorly water-soluble drugs and that the water-soluble polymers enhance the complexation efficiency of γCD and HPγCD by stabilizing the self-assembled drug/CD nanoparticles and promote non-inclusion complex formation.     

Simultaneous determination of six herbal components in intestinal perfusate by high‐performance liquid chromatography

An effective, accurate and reliable HPLC with UV detection method was developed and validated for quantitation of six components: baicalin, berberine hydrochloride, quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin and baicalein in intestinal perfusate using rotundin as an internal standard. The chromatographic separation was performed on a Welchrom‐C₁₈ column (250 × 4.6 mm i.d. with 5.0 µm particle size) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile, water, phosphoric acid and triethylamine (30:70:0.2:0.1,v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and a UV detection at 270 nm. The method had a chromatographic run time of 30 min and excellent linear behavior over the investigated concentration ranges observed with the values of r higher than 0.99 for all the analytes. The lower limit of quantification of the analytical method was 0.09 µg/mL for berberine hydrochloride, quercetin, kaempferol and baicalein and 0.18 µg/mL for baicalin and isorhamnetin. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions measured at three concentration levels were all less than 10% for all analytes. The bias ranged from ?6.91 to 4.33%. The validated method has been successfully applied to investigate the rat intestine absorption profiles of baicalin, berberine hydrochloride, quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin and baicalein. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Inhibition of the Hydrolysis of Cephanone by CTAB/n‐C5H11OH/H2O Microemulsion

Abstract

The hydrolysis of cephanone in water, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) micelle, and CTAB/n‐C₅H₁₁OH/H₂O O/W microemulsion was studied through UV‐VIS absorption spectroscopy. The mechanism of the hydrolysis and the effects of both the acidity of the media and the composition of O/W microemulsion on the hydrolysis were studied. The results show that the hydrolysis rate of cephanone increases with the acidity. Compared with water, CTAB micelle and CTAB/n‐C₅H₁₁OH/H₂O O/W microemulsion suppress this hydrolysis. The inhibition of the hydrolysis of cephanone by CTAB micelle and CTAB/n‐C₅H₁₁OH/H₂O O/W microemulsion is related to the location of cephanone in the interphases of CTAB micelles and CTAB/n‐C₅H₁₁OH/H₂O O/W microemulsion droplets.     

Solubility and Thermal Degradation of Quercetin in CO2-Expanded Liquids

The solubility of quercetin and its thermal degradation was studied in CO₂-expanded ethanol and ethyl lactate. An equipment setup was constructed that enabled the separation of the products of degradation while quantifying the solubility of quercetin. Three different conditions of temperature were analyzed (308, 323, and 343 K) at 10 MPa. Higher solubility and thermal degradation of quercetin were observed for CO₂-expanded ethyl lactate in comparison with CO₂-expanded ethanol. At the same time, as the amount of CO₂ was increased in the CO₂-expanded liquids mixtures, the thermal degradation of quercetin decreased for almost all the conditions of temperature considered in this work. The importance of considering thermal degradation while performing solubility measurements of compounds that are thermally unstable such as quercetin was highlighted.     

Effect of Oil/Water Ratios on the Phase Behavior and the Solubilization Ability of Microemulsion Systems Containing Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

An α–ε–β fish-like phase diagram of three phase microemulsions was proposed and used to investigate the phase behavior of the microemulsion systems sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/alcohol/oil/water at various oil/water ratios. Related physicochemical properties of the microemulsion systems were calculated. As the oil/water mass ratio increases, the solubility (ε _B) of the alcohol increases, while both the mass fraction of alcohol in the interfacial layer (A ^S) and the solubilization ability (SP ^∗) decrease. The effect of oils on the properties of the microemulsion systems was investigated.