Formulation design of an oral, fast-disintegrating dosage form containing taste-masked particles of famotidine

A fast-disintegrating dosage form has been developed as a user-friendly formulation that disintegrates in the mouth immediately. Patients can take it without water like a liquid formulation. In this study famotidine taste-masking technology was applied to the new fast-disintegrating tablet in an attempt to produce a novel, taste-masked, fast-disintegrating tablet. Partial granulation was found to be an effective and practical way to address content uniformity, however, oral disintegration time tended to become longer as content uniformity improved. The disintegration time was improved considerably by controlling ambient humidity during the compression process (>50% RH). Furthermore, since the new fast-disintegrating technology made it possible to use low compression force, there was no change in the structure or dissolution rate of the taste-masked particles after compression. Therefore, this system can produce a taste-masked fast-disintegrating tablet with satisfactory attributes.     

Formulation study for lansoprazole fast-disintegrating tablet. III. Design of rapidly disintegrating tablets

Lansoprazole fast-disintegrating tablets (LFDT) are a patient-friendly formulation that rapidly disintegrates in the mouth. LFDT consist of enteric-coated microgranules (mean particle size, approximately 300 microm) and inactive granules. In the design of the inactive granules, mannitol was used as a basic excipient. Microcrystalline cellulose, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (L-HPC), and crospovidone were used as binders and disintegrants. A new grade of L-HPC (L-HPC-33), with a hydroxypropoxy group content of 5.0-6.9%, was developed and it has no rough texture due to a decrease in water absorption. It was clarified that L-HPC-33 could be useful as a binder and disintegrant in rapidly disintegrating tablets. LFDT contain enteric-coated microgranules in tablet form. The enteric-coated microgranule content in LFDT affect qualities such as tensile strength, disintegration time in the mouth, and dissolution behavior in the acid stage and in the buffer stage of LFDT. The 47.4% content of the enteric-coated microgranules was selected to give sufficient tensile strength (not less than 30 N/cm(2)), rapid disintegration time in the mouth (not more than 30 s), and dissolution behavior in the acid stage and buffer stage similar to current lansoprazole capsules. Compression force affected the tensile strength and the disintegration time in the mouth, but did not affect the dissolution behavior in the acid and buffer stages.     

Formulation study for lansoprazole fast-disintegrating tablet. I. Effect of compression on dissolution behavior

Lansoprazole fast-disintegrating tablet (LFDT) is a new patient-friendly formulation of lansoprazole. Since lansoprazole is an antiulcer agent and is unstable under acidic conditions, we have developed LFDT as an orally disintegrating tablet containing enteric-coated microgranules. The effect of compression on dissolution behavior was investigated, as compression affected cleavage and crushing of the enteric layer. To decrease cleavage and crushing of the enteric layer, the effects of the combined ratio of methacrylic acid copolymer dispersion to ethyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymer dispersion and the concentration of triethyl citrate on the dissolution in the acid stage and the dissolution in the buffer stage were evaluated. By adjusting the ratio of methacrylic acid copolymer dispersion to ethyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymer dispersion to 9 : 1 and adding a 20% triethyl citrate concentration, sufficient flexibility of the enteric layer and sufficient stability against compression forces were achieved. Agglomeration of enteric-coated microgranules during the coating process was decreased at the optimized concentration of triethyl citrate and glyceryl monostearate. We compared the absorption properties of LFDT and lansoprazole capsules in dogs. The absorption profiles of LFDT were similar to those of lansoprazole capsules.     

New colorimetric methods for the determination of trazodone HCl,famotidine, and diltiazem HCl in their pharmaceutical dosage forms

Two sensitive and simple spectrophotometric methods are developed for the determination of trazodone HCl, famotidine, and diltiazem HCl in pure and pharmaceutical preparations. The methods are based on the oxidation of the cited drugs with iron(III) in acidic medium. The liberated iron(II) reacts with 1,10-phenanthroline (method A) and the ferroin complex is colorimetrically measured at 510 nm against reagent blank. Method B is based on the reaction of the liberated Fe(II) with 2,2-bipyridyl to form a stable colored complex with lambda(max )at 520 nm. Optimization of the experimental conditions was described. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 1-5, 2-12, and 12-32 microg mL(-1) for trazodone, famotidine, and diltiazem with method A, and 1-10 and 8-16 microg mL(-1) for trazodone and famotidine with method B. The apparent molar absorptivity for method A is 1.06x10(5), 2.9x10(4), 1.2x10(4) and for method B is 9.4x10(4 )and 1.6x10(4), respectively. The suggested procedures could be used for the determination of trazodone, famotidine, and diltiazem, both in pure and dosage forms without interference from common excipients.     

Formulation study for lansoprazole fast-disintegrating tablet. II. Effect of triethyl citrate on the quality of the products

The purpose of this study was to develop enteric-coated microgranules for the lansoprazole fast-disintegrating tablet (LFDT), which is a rapidly disintegrating tablet containing enteric-coated microgranules. In our previous study, it was clarified that sufficient flexibility of the enteric layer was achieved by the optimized combined ratio of methacrylic acid copolymer dispersion to ethyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymer dispersion and adding the optimized concentration of triethyl citrate to reduce the damage during the compression process. However, since triethyl citrate has an unpleasant bitter taste and is especially incompatible with lansoprazole, it adversely affects the taste and stability of lansoprazole in the enteric-coated microgranules. The enteric layer containing macrogol 6000 was proven useful to improve the unpleasant bitter taste and stability of lansoprazole, because macrogol 6000 does not have an unpleasant bitter taste and is more compatible than triethyl citerate. By covering the inner (first enteric layer) and outer side (third enteric layer) of the enteric layer containing triethyl citrate (second enteric layer) with the enteric layer containing macrogol 6000, we resolved the stability problem of lansoprazole and the unpleasant bitter taste. Finally, we developed enteric-coated microgranules comprising seven layers: 1) core, 2) active compound layer, 3) intermediate layer, 4) first enteric layer, 5) second enteric layer, 6) third enteric layer, and 7) over coating layer. The enteric-coated microgranules have the multiple functions of reducing the damage to the enteric layer during the compression process, improving the stability of lansoprazole, and masking the unpleasant bitter taste.     

Development and validation of an HPLC method for mefloquine hydrochloride determination in tablet dosage form

A simple HPLC method for determination of mefloquine hydrochloride in tablets was developed and validated. The separation was carried out on an Xterra RP18 (250 x 4.6 mm id, 5 pm particle size) analytical column. The mobile phase was 0.05 M monobasic potassium phosphate buffer (pH 3.5)-methanol (40 + 60, v/v). The flow rate and wavelength were set to 1 mL/min and 283 nm, respectively. The method was specific for mefloquine hydrochloride in the presence of hydrolytic, oxidative, and photolytic degradation products. It was also linear, precise, accurate, and robust, being suitable for routine QC analyses and stability studies. The developed HPLC method was compared to a previously described spectrophotometric method.     

Development of a stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatography method for assay of erythromycin ethylsuccinate in powder for oral suspension dosage form

In this study an effective method was developed to assay erythromycin ethylsuccinate for an oral suspension dosage form. The chromatographic separation was achieved on an X-Terra™ C₁₈ analytical column. A mixture of acetonitrile–ammonium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (0.025 mol L^-1) (60:40, V/V) (pH 7.0) was used as the mobile phase, effluent flow rate monitored at 1.0 mL min⁻¹, and UV detection at 205 nm. In forced degradation studies, the effects of acid, base, oxidation, UV light and temperature were investigated showing no interference in the peak of drug. The proposed method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity, robustness, precision and accuracy. The method was linear at concentrations ranging from 400 to 600 μg mL⁻¹, precise (intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations <0.65), accurate (mean recovery; 99.5%). The impurities and degradation products of erythromycin ethylsuccinate were selectively determined with good resolution in both the raw material and the final suspension forms. The method could be useful for both routine analytical and quality control assays of erythromycin ethylsuccinate in commercial powder for an oral suspension dosage form and it could be a very powerful tool to investigate the chemical stability of erythromycin ethylsuccinate.     

HPTLC method for determination of nevirapine in pharmaceutical dosage form

A sensitive, selective, precise and stability-indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method of analysis of nevirapine both as a bulk drug and in formulations was developed and validated. The solvent system consisted of toluene-carbon tetrachloride-methanol-acetone-ammonia (3.5:3.5:2.0:1.0:0.05, v/v/v/v/v). Densitometric analysis of nevirapine was carried out in the absorbance mode at 289nm. This system was found to give compact spots for nevirapine (R(f) value of 0.44+/-0.02). Nevirapine was subjected to acid and alkali hydrolysis, oxidation, dry heat and wet heat treatment and photodegradation. The drug undergoes degradation under acidic, basic conditions and oxidation. Also the degraded products were well resolved from the pure drug with significantly different R(f) values. Linearity was found to be in the range of 30-1000ng/spot with significantly high value of correlation coefficient. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship with r(2)=0.998+/-0.002 in the working concentration range of 300ng/spot to 1000ng/spot. The mean value of slope and intercept were 0.073+/-0.005 and 36.78+/-1.50, respectively. The method was validated for precision, robustness and recovery. The limit of detection and quantitation were 5 and 10ng/spot, respectively. As the method could effectively separate the drug from its degradation products, it can be employed as a stability indicating one. Moreover, the proposed HPTLC method was utilized to investigate the kinetics of acid degradation process. Arrhenius plot was constructed and activation energy was calculated.     

一种抗偏头痛复方制剂体外溶出度的比较研究

 A novel in vitro dissolution profile was developed for formulated drug in combinational form containing naproxen sodium (NAP) and sumatriptan succinate (SUMA). This study was performed to understand the dissolution of the drug in the physiological temperature and pH. Dissolution testing was performed using USP 29 type II testing apparatus rotating at 50 r/min, in 900 mL deaerated buffer （pH 1.2, 4.5 and 6.8） which was maintained at (37±0.5) ℃. Quantification was performed using a developed and validated high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. Aceclofenac (ACE) was used as internal standard. SUMA, ACE and NAP were eluted at 4.8, 5.7 and 7.9 min, respectively. As expected for enteric coated immediate release (IR) tablets, the dissolution of NAP and SUMA was rapid and essentially complete within 2 h using phosphate buffer (pH 6.8). The comparison of the dissolution profiles was realized by model independent approach using a difference factor (f1), similarity factor (f2) and dissolution efficiency (DE). Statistical results showed the profiles were similar to the reference and the test products. Hence, this method demonstrated to be adequate for in vitro studies of NAP and SUMA in the combinational dosage form, since there is no official monograph, collaborating to the official codes.     

Gradient HPLC-DAD stability indicating determination of miconazole nitrate and lidocaine hydrochloride in their combined oral gel dosage form

The pharmaceutical combination of miconazole nitrate (MZ) and lidocaine hydrochloride (LD) is used in the curative and prophylactic therapy of the oral and gastro-intestinal infections caused by Candida albicans. To the best of our knowledge, no attempts have yet been made to assay this combination by any analytical method. A simple and selective high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) stability-indicating method was developed for the simultaneous determination of MZ and LD in their combined formulation. Effective chromatographic separation was achieved using a Zorbax SB-C8 column with gradient elution of the mobile phase composed of 0.05 M phosphoric acid and acetonitrile. The gradient elution started with 25% (by volume) acetonitrile, ramped up linearly to 65% in 6 min, then kept constant until the end of the run. The mobile phase was pumped at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The multiple wavelength detector was set at 215 nm and analytes were quantified by measuring their peak areas. The retention times for LD and MZ were approximately 4.1 and 8.4 min, respectively. The reliability and analytical performance of the proposed HPLC procedure were statistically validated with respect to linearity, ranges, precision, accuracy, selectivity, robustness, detection and quantification limits. Calibration curves were linear in the ranges of 5-100 μg/ml for both drugs with correlation coefficients > 0.999. Both drugs were subjected to stress conditions of hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation. The proposed method proved to be stability-indicating by the resolution of the two analytes from the related substance and potential impurity (2,6-dimethylaniline) and from the forced-degradation products. The validated HPLC method was applied to the analysis of MZ and LD in the combined oral gel preparation, in which the two analytes were successfully quantified and resolved from the pharmaceutical additives. The proposed method made use of DAD as a tool for peak identity and purity confirmation.     

Simultaneous determination of aceclofenac, paracetamol, and chlorzoxazone by RP-HPLC in pharmaceutical dosage form

A simple, rapid, and precise reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method is developed for simultaneous determination of paracetamol, aceclofenac, and chlorzoxazone in their ternary mixtures of commercial pharmaceutical preparation. This method uses a Zorbax SB C18, 250 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm analytical column. Mobile phase is acetonitrile and buffer (40:60, v/v), buffer containing 50 mM orthophosporic acid; pH of the buffer is adjusted to 6 with 10% w/v sodium hydroxide solution. The instrumental settings are at a flow rate of 1 mL/min; the column temperature is 25 degrees C, and detector wavelength is 270 nm. The sample concentrations are measured on weight basis to avoid the internal standard. The method is validated and shown to be linear. The correlation coefficients for paracetamol, aceclofenac, and chlorzoxazone are 0.9981, 0.9990, and 0.9986, respectively. The recovery values for paracetamol, aceclofenac, and chlorzoxazone ranged from 100.7-101.4%, 100.4-101.0%, and 100.5-101.3%, respectively. The relative standard deviation for six replicates is always less than 2%. This HPLC method is successfully applied to the simultaneous quantitative analysis of the title drugs in tablets and can be applied for assay and dissolution test of tablets for the estimation of paracetamol, aceclofenac, and chlorozoxazone in their commercial samples.     

Use of DSC and TG for identification and quantification of the dosage form

Thermal analysis techniques, DSC and TG can advantageously be used in quality control of drug products.The methods are commonly used in preformulation for the study of polymorphism and for the study of the interactions drug substance-excipients, since these physical interactions can be the basis of the dosage form performance.For routine control of the drug products, DSC and TG methods which are quick, which require only few mg of the samples and which are automated, are very attractive for routine analysis of drug products. A single scan can give several qualitative and quantitative informations.DSC offer analytical possibilities only if the drug substance and the excipients do not have physical interactions or limited interactions (e.g. eutectic behaviour). About twenty marketed products have been analyzed by DSC and TG. In most of them identification of drug substance is easy. Several excipients could be identified in a tablet. Quantitations are demonstrated for some drug substances and excipients. DSC purity calculations have been applied to acetyl salicylic acid, paracetamol, cimetidine, pindolol, ibuprofen.     

Redispersible dry emulsion system as novel oral dosage form of oily drugs: in vivo studies in beagle dogs.

The absorption characteristics of vitamin E acetate (VEA) formulated into a dry emulsion system after its oral administration to beagle dogs were determined and compared to those of two different dosage forms (an oily mixture of the drug with cottonseed oil and an oil (drug)-in-water emulsion). The three dosage forms were administered in a crossover fashion to six nonfasting subjects, and the drug absorption was assessed from the plasma concentration of the major metabolite (free vitamin E). VEA formulated in the dry emulsion was rapidly absorbed, which suggested that a considerable amount was released as reformed emulsion droplets in the gastrointestinal tract as well as in water in vitro. Based on the analysis of variance, no significant differences in bioavailability parameters (AUC, Cmax or Tmax) were observed among the three dosage forms.     

Properties of square-pyramidal alkyl-thiolate Fe(III) complexes, including an analogue of the unmodified form of nitrile hydratase

The syntheses and structures of three new coordinatively unsaturated, monomeric, square-pyramidal thiolate-ligated Fe(III) complexes are described, [Fe(III)((tame-N(3))S(2)(Me2))](+) (1), [Fe(III)(Et-N(2)S(2)(Me2))(py)](1-) (3), and [Fe(III)((tame-N(2)S)S(2)(Me2))](2-) (15). The anionic bis-carboxamide, tris-thiolate N(2)S(3) coordination sphere of 15 is potentially similar to that of the yet-to-be characterized unmodified form of NHase. Comparison of the magnetic and reactivity properties of these reveals how anionic charge build up (from cationic 1 to anionic 3 and dianionic 15) and spin-state influence apical ligand affinity. For all of the ligand-field combinations examined, an intermediate S = 3/2 spin state was shown to be favored by a strong N(2)S(2) basal plane ligand field, and this was found to reduce the affinity for apical ligands, even when they are built in. This is in contrast to the post-translationally modified NHase active site, which is low spin and displays a higher affinity for apical ligands. Cationic 1 and its reduced Fe(II) precursor are shown to bind NO and CO, respectively, to afford [Fe(III)((tame-N(3))S(2)(Me))(NO)](+) (18, nu(NuO) = 1865 cm(-1)), an analogue of NO-inactivated NHase, and [Fe(II)((tame-N(3))S(2)(Me))(CO)] (16; nu(CO) stretch (1895 cm(-1)). Anions (N(3)(-), CN(-)) are shown to be unreactive toward 1, 3, and 15 and neutral ligands unreactive toward 3 and 15, even when present in 100-fold excess and at low temperatures. The curtailed reactivity of 15, an analogue of the unmodified form of NHase, and its apical-oxygenated S = 3/2 derivative [Fe(III)((tame-N(2)SO(2))S(2)(Me2))](2-) (20) suggests that regioselective post-translational oxygenation of the basal plane NHase cysteinate sulfurs plays an important role in promoting substrate binding. This is supported by previously reported theoretical (DFT) calculations.     

Formulation of an Environmentally Friendly Adhesive for Wood

Summary: Malaysia has over 4 million hectares of oil palm plantations that yield large amounts of empty fruit bunches (EFB) generated from palm oil milling operations. These forms of lignocellulosic residue pose an environmental hazard if their disposal is not managed in a systematic manner. One of the useful elements extracted from these EFBs is lignin. The general purpose of this study is to explore the potential uses of lignin extracted from soda black liquor (paper and pulping waste) derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) in the formulation of a more environmentally friendly wood adhesive. In this work, the potential for replacing phenol with lignin in phenol formaldehyde resin formulation is examined. The quantity of phenol was reduced by synthesizing the resin at a lignin to phenol ratio of 1:1. The physical and chemical properties of lignin phenol formaldehyde resin (LPF) and commercial phenol formaldehyde resin (CPF) were then compared. The infrared spectrum revealed similarities in the functional groups of both LPF and CPF resins. Tensile strength comparisons between both resins revealed that the LPF resin had a higher bonding strength (11.60 MPa more in term of allowable maximum load). In addition, the kinematics viscosity test showed that the LPF resin had lower kinematic viscosity than the CPF resin after 21 days of storage. Finally, the scanning electron microscope images for both resins showed similarities in terms of penetration into wood vessels.     

Optimization and validation of an RP-HPLC method for direct determination of metformin hydrochloride in human urine and in a dosage form

A simple, selective, sensitive, accurate, and precise method was developed for determination of metformin hydrochloride (MF) in human urine using RP-HPLC. The method depends upon using an octylsilyl (C8) 5 microm particle size column at ambient temperature with mobile phase consisting of 33 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate containing 6.38 mM hexanesulfonic acid sodium salt and adjusted to apparent pH 3.0 with phosphoric acid-acetonitrile (93 + 7, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. Quantitation was achieved with UV detection at 231 nm based on peak area with a linear calibration curve over the concentration range of 0.01-50 microg/mL. The proposed method was applied to the determination of the urinary excretion pattern of MF (the cumulative amounts excreted were calculated without pretreatment of the urine sample) and for determination of the dissolution pattern of MF tablets. The proposed method was completely validated according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines.     

Bioanalytical methods for metabolomic profiling: Detection of head and neck cancer,including oral cancer

Metabolomics is an emerging field dealing with the measurement and interpretation of small molecular byproducts of biochemical processes, or metabolites, which can be used to generate profiles from biological samples. Promising for use in pathophysiology, metabolomic profiles give the immediate biological state of a sample. These profiles are altered in diseases and are detectable in biological samples, such as tissue, blood, urine, saliva, and others. Most remarkably, metabolic profiles usually are altered before symptoms appear in a patient. For this reason, metabolomics has potential as a reliable method for an early diagnosis of diseases through disease biomarker identification. This application is most prevalent in cancer, such as head and neck cancer (HNC). Metabolomic studies offer avenues to improve on current medical techniques through the application of mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and statistical analysis to determine better biomarkers than those currently known. In this review, we discuss the use of MS and NMR tools for detecting biomarkers in tissue and fluid samples, and the appropriateness of metabolomics in analyzing cancer. Advantages, disadvantages, and recent studies on metabolomic profiling techniques in HNC analysis are also discussed herein.