The study of the emulsification efficiency of Aerosil and HPMCAS type and their ratio to stabilize emulsions of zedoary turmeric oil

The solid particles or polymers were often solely used to stabilizing emulsions, as an interesting alternative to classical used emulsifiers. However, a united use of them and the relation between them at stabilizing emulsions were little reported. Our previous study showed that the preparation of microspheres containing zedoary turmeric oil (ZTO, as an oily drug), Aerosil200 particles and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS). ZTO emulsions were produced when the microspheres were immersed into aqueous media and disaggregated under gentle agitation, and were stabilized by Aerosil200 particles and HPMCAS. Nevertheless, more work needs to be carried out to explain the factor affecting emulsification efficiency of microspheres, which will facilitate the design of the microsphere formulation. Thus, in this study, we dealt with a system consisting of Aerosil, HPMCAS, ZTO and water. To predict the best ratio of Aerosil/polymer and thus obtain the best satisfying ZTO emulsions, the bonding studies were carried out with Aerosil and HPMCAS. A series of emulsions was prepared and the stability and droplet size of resultant emulsions were investigated. The results indicated two kinds of HPMCAS (HPMCAS-LG and -HG) showed the different affinity for Aerosil200, which resulted in the unlike capability to stabilize emulsions when at the same Aerosil/polymer ratio. The stability and droplet size of emulsions increased on increasing the ratio Aerosil to polymer, and the best ratio was predictable from the Langumuir-fit of the adsorption isotherms. Appropriate hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity with Aerosil particles were very important to stabilizing the ZTO emulsions.     

Studies on preparation and absolute bioavailability of a self-emulsifying system containing puerarin

The purpose of the study was to develop an optimum formulation of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) containing puerarin and to evaluate its absolute bioavailability. Using oleic acid as oil, Tween-80 as surfactant and propylene glycol as cosurfactant, a series of mixtures comprising oleic acid, propylene glycol and Tween 80 were prepared and their self-emulsifying properties were studied. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to identify the efficient self-emulsification region and particle sizes of the resultant emulsions were determined using a laser diffraction sizer. From these studies, an optimized formulation consisting of oil (17.5%), Tween-80 (34.5%) and cosurfactant (34.5%) was selected and its absolute bioavailability in beagle dogs after oral administration was about 24.8%. The data suggest the use of SEDDS to provide a potential way of puerarin administered orally.     

Study on colon-specific 5-Fu pH-enzyme Di-dependent chitosan microspheres

Colon-specific drug delivery systems (CDDS) can improve the bioavailability of drug through the oral route. A novel formulation for oral administration using pH-enzyme Di-dependent chitosan mcirospheres (MS) and 5-Fu as a model drug has been investigated for colon-specific drug delivery by the emulsification/chemical cross-linking and coating technique, respectively. The influence of polymer concentration, ratio of drug to polymer, the amount of crosslinking agent and the stirring speed on the encapsulation efficiency, particle size in microspheres were evaluated. The best formulation was optimized by an orthogonal design. Drug release studies under conditions mimicking stomach to colon transit have shown that the drug was protected from being released in the physiological environment of the stomach and small intestine. The plasma concentrations of 5-Fu after oral administration of coated chitosan MS to rats were determined and compared with that of 5-Fu solution. The in vivo pharmacokinetics study of 5-Fu loaded pH-enzyme Di-dependent chitosan MS showed sustained plasma 5-Fu concentration-time profile. The in vitro release correlated well with the pharmacokinetics profile. The results clearly demonstrated that the pH-enzyme Di-dependent chitosan MS is potential system for colon-specific drug delivery of 5-Fu.     

Emulsions in Health Care Applications—An Overview

Pharmaceutical applications of emulsions are reviewed with special emphasis on the main reasons these vehicles are used and on their limitations. The development of current applications and future directions are considered according to their delivery routes: these routes can be either parenteral, ocular, or oral, or even transdermal. We examine the raw materials generally used in the formulation of these emulsions, and we consider the main factors influencing the release and absorption of the drugs from these vehicles. We also treat the pharmaceutical applications of emulsified vehicles, particularly submicron emulsions, multiple emulsions, and microemulsions. We have also developed some interesting applications of these formulations such as self-emulsifying drug delivery systems, fat emulsions, and drug carrier systems.     

Formulation and optimization of orally disintegrating tablets of sumatriptan succinate

The aims of the present research were to mask the intensely bitter taste of sumatriptan succinate and to formulate orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) of the taste masked drug. Taste masking was performed by coating sumatriptan succinate with Eudragit EPO using spray drying technique. The resultant microspheres were evaluated for thermal analysis, yield, particle size, entrapment efficiency and in vitro taste masking. The tablets were formulated by mixing the taste masked microspheres with different types and concentrations of superdisintegrants and compressed using direct compression method followed by sublimation technique. The prepared tablets were evaluated for weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, drug content, water content, in vitro disintegration time and in vitro drug release. All the tablet formulations disintegrated in vitro within 37-410 s. The optimized formulation containing 5% Kollidon CL-SF released more than 90% of the drug within 15 min and the release was comparable to that of commercial product (Suminat?). In human volunteers, the optimized formulation was found to have a pleasant taste and mouth feel and disintegrated in the oral cavity within 41 s. The optimized formulation was found to be stable and bioequivalent with Suminat?.     

A validated LC‐MS/MS assay for the quantitative determination of curdione in rabbit plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study after administration of zedoary turmeric oil and bioavailability of the oil

A selective and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the first time for the identification and quantification of curdione in rabbit plasma after vaginal drug administration and intravenous administration of zedoary turmeric oil (ZTO) solution (10 mg/kg). The analysis was performed on a triple‐quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer with multiple reaction monitoring mode via electrospray ionization source in positive ionization mode. After mixing with internal standard diazepam, plasma samples were extracted with ethyl ether–acetic ether (1:1, v/v). Chromatographic separation was carried out on a C₁₈ column with gradient elution using a mixture of water and acetonitrile (both containing 0.1% formic acid) as mobile phases. Linearity ranged over 1.06–106 and 10.6–530 ng/mL (r ≥ 0.995) with the lower limit of quantfication 1.06 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision relative standard deviation values were <12% and the accuracy relative error was from ?10.6 to ?6.1% at all quality control sample levels. The method was applied to a study of the pharmacokinetics of curdione after vaginal drug administration and intravenous administration of ZTO. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Control of prolonged drug release and compression properties of ibuprofen microspheres with acrylic polymer, eudragit RS, by changing their intraparticle porosity [corrected]

Prolonged-release spherical micro-matrices of ibuprofen with Eudragit RS were prepared using a novel emulsion-solvent diffusion method. Those particles were termed "microspheres" due to their characteristic sponge-like texture and unique dissolution and compression properties unlike conventional microcapsules or microspheres. The internal porosity of microspheres could be easily controlled by changing the concentration of the drug and the polymer in the emulsion droplet (ethanol). With lower concentration of ibuprofen in the ethanol, the resultant microspheres had a higher porosity, about 50%. The drug release rate from the microspheres was interpreted by the Higuchi model of spherical matrices, which depended only on their internal porosity of the microspheres when size distribution and drug content were the same. The tortuosities in the microspheres were found to be almost constant (3-4) irrespective of porosity, suggesting the same internal texture. Microsphere compressibility was much improved over the physical mixture of the drug and polymer owing to the plastic deformation of their sponge-like structure. The more porous microspheres produced stronger tablets [corrected].     

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.     

Design and Development of Oral Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsion Formulation Bearing Atorvastatin: In Vitro Assessment

The objective of the present investigation was to design a thermodynamically stable and dilutable nanoemulsion formulation of AT-Ca with minimum surfactant concentration that could improve its solubility as well as its oral bioavailability. The composition of optimized nanoemulsion formulation was Sefsol 218 and oleic acid (1:1) 10% w/w, as an oil phase, Tween-20 (19% w/w) as a surfactant, Carbitol (19% w/w) as a cosurfactant and distilled water (52% w/w) as an aqueous phase, containing 10 mg of AT. The optimized formulation showed higher% drug release (99.34%), lower droplet size (42.8 ± 0.42 nm) with low polydispersity index (0.237 ± 0.012), less viscosity (27.51 ± 1.01 cP) and infinite dilution capability. In vitro drug release from the nanoemulsion formulations was highly significant (p < 0.01) as compared to drug suspension.     

Formation of Pickering emulsions stabilized via interaction between nanoparticles dispersed in aqueous phase and polymer end groups dissolved in oil phase

The influence of end groups of a polymer dissolved in an oil phase on the formation of a Pickering-type hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticle-stabilized emulsion and on the morphology of HAp nanoparticle-coated microspheres prepared by evaporating solvent from the emulsion was investigated. Polystyrene (PS) molecules with varying end groups and molecular weights were used as model polymers. Although HAp nanoparticles alone could not function as a particulate emulsifier for stabilizing dichloromethane (oil) droplets, oil droplets could be stabilized with the aid of carboxyl end groups of the polymers dissolved in the oil phase. Lower-molecular-weight PS molecules containing carboxyl end groups formed small droplets and deflated microspheres, due to the higher concentration of carboxyl groups on the droplet/microsphere surface and hence stronger adsorption of the nanoparticles at the water/oil interface. In addition, Pickering-type suspension polymerization of styrene droplets stabilized by PS molecules containing carboxyl end groups successfully led to the formation of spherical HAp-coated microspheres.     

Studies on sustained-release suppositories. II. Evaluation of polymer electrolyte containing acidic groups for prolonged rectal absorption of bacampicillin in rabbits

Rectal absorption of bacampicillin hydrochloride (BAPC) was found to show the best bioavailability with Witepsol H-15 as suppository base among various Witepsol bases. However, an effective plasma concentration of drug (above 0.5 micrograms/ml) was only maintained for 2 h, so sustained-release suppositories of BAPC were studied. Bacampicillin reacts with acidic polymer electrolytes such as pectic acid (Pc), chondroitin sulfate (Cd) and precipitates as its adduct with the polymer in an aqueous solution. The dissolution rate of BAPC from the adducts in a solution was slower than that of BAPC itself. The absorptions of BAPC from the suppositories containing the adducts were prolonged, but the bioavailabilities were decreased compared to that from the suppository containing BAPC alone. Similar prolonged absorption could be obtained simply by mixing Pc or Cd with BAPC in a base. Further, the absorption rate was found to be controlled by the amount of the polymer addition, and both a high plasma level and excellent bioavailability were obtained. This desirable outcome may be due to the simultaneous occurrence of rapid absorption of BAPC itself and formation of the adducts.     

Controlling coffee ring structure on hydrophobic polymer surface by manipulating wettability with O2 plasma

A simple and novel method is firstly reported for controlling coffee ring structure on polystyrene (PS) film surface by O₂ plasma. O₂ plasma treatment leads to the wettability change of PS surface from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. For hydrophilic PS surface the coffee ring structure is avoided relying on the motion of contact line (CL) while SiO₂ microspheres are left. The motion of the CL is produced based on the viscosity and Marangoni effect with the addition of polymer additives. For hydrophobic PS surface coffee ring structure still persists even with polymer additives because SiO₂ microspheres transfer with the motion of the CL at the beginning of droplet evaporation and accumulate at the droplet edge at late stage with the pinning of the CL. As a result, uniform and macroscale SiO₂ microspheres deposition without coffee ring structure and SiO₂ microspheres deposition with coffee ring structure are controlled by O₂ plasma. This method provides a new way to tune coffee ring structure with smart surface and may be potentially useful for a range of application at material deposition and diagnosing diseases.     

Oral Bioavailability of Flutamide from 1‐O‐Alkylglycerol Stabilized o/w Nanoemulsions

Size of oil globule and emulsifier film covering it are the key factors modifying oral absorption of drugs dissolved/dispersed in oil globules of o/w emulsions. Since oral bioavailability of flutamide (FTM) is poor, nanoemulsions incorporating FTM in oil phase and globules stabilized by a novel lipophilic emulsifier, 1‐O‐alkylglycerol were developed and characterized. All nanoemulsions had a size around 200 nm. They exhibited considerable release retardation in vitro. Flutamide nanoemulsions were evaluated for oral bioavailability in rabbits and in situ intestinal absorption in rats. Serum level data of flutamide obtained in the in situ experiments indicate higher FTM absorption from nanoemulsions than the aqueous FTM suspension. Among the nanoemulsions, 1‐O‐alkylglycerol stabilized systems showed higher absorption. The results of bioavailability studies in rabbits indicate increased absorption and decreased elimination of FTM from nanoemulsions, thus improving the bioavailability. Increased rate of absorption of flutamide in the in situ experiments can be attributed to the permeation enhancement effect of 1‐O‐alkylglycerols. However, size of the oil droplet seems to be the major factor in improving oral bioavailability in rabbits.     

Influence of oil polarity on droplet growth in oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by a weakly adsorbing biopolymer or a nonionic surfactant

The influence of oil type (n-hexadecane, 1-decanol, n-decane), droplet composition (hexadecane:decanol), and emulsifier type (Tween 20, gum arabic) on droplet growth in oil-in-water emulsions was studied. Droplet size distributions of emulsions were measured over time (0-120 h) by laser diffraction and ultrasonic spectroscopy. Emulsions containing oil molecules of low polarity and low water solubility (hexadecane) were stable to droplet growth, irrespective of the emulsifier used to stabilize the droplets. Emulsions containing oil molecules of low polarity and relatively high water solubility (decane) were stable to coalescence, but unstable to Ostwald ripening, irrespective of emulsifier. Droplet growth in emulsions containing oil molecules of relatively high polarity and high water solubility (decanol) depended on emulsifier type. Decanol droplets stabilized by Tween 20 were stable to droplet growth in concentrated emulsions but unstable when the emulsions were diluted. Decanol droplets stabilized by gum arabic exhibited rapid and extensive droplet growth, probably due to a combination of Ostwald ripening and coalescence. We proposed that coalescence was caused by the relatively low interfacial tension at the decanol-water boundary, which meant that the gum arabic did not absorb strongly to the droplet surfaces and therefore did not prevent the droplets from coming into close proximity.     

Droplet surface properties and rheology of concentrated oil in water emulsions stabilized by heat-modified beta-lactoglobulin B

Effects of substituting native beta-lactoglobulin B (beta-lactoglobulin) with heat-treated beta-lactoglobulin as emulsifier in oil in water emulsions were investigated. The emulsions were prepared with a dispersed phase volume fraction of Phi=0.6, and accordingly, oil droplets rather closely packed. Native beta-lactoglobulin and beta-lactoglobulin heated at 69 degrees C for 30 and 45 min, respectively, in aqueous solution at pH 7.0 were compared. Molar mass determination of the species formed upon heating as well as measurements of surface hydrophobicity and adsorption to a planar air/water interface were made. The microstructure of the emulsions was characterized using confocal laser scanning microscopy, light scattering measurements of oil droplet sizes, and assessment of the amount of protein adsorbed to surfaces of oil droplets. Furthermore, oil droplet interactions in the emulsions were quantified rheologically by steady shear and small and large amplitude oscillatory shear measurements. Adsorption of heated and native beta-lactoglobulin to oil droplet surfaces was found to be rather similar while the rheological properties of the emulsions stabilized by heated beta-lactoglobulin and the emulsions stabilized by native beta-lactoglobulin were remarkably different. A 200-fold increase in the zero-shear viscosity and elastic modulus and a 10-fold increase in yield stress were observed when emulsions were stabilized by heat-modified beta-lactoglobulin instead of native beta-lactoglobulin. Aggregates with a radius of gyration in the range from 25 to 40 nm, formed by heating of beta-lactoglobulin, seem to increase oil droplet interactions. Small quantities of emulsifier substituted with aggregates have a major impact on the rheology of oil in water emulsions that consist of rather closely packed oil droplets.     

Effect of hydrophobic modification of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose on silicone oil emulsions

To study the effect of hydrophobic modification of the emulsifier on the relationship between emulsion stability and polymer emulsifier concentration, silicone oil emulsions were prepared using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (original HPMC) and HPMC stearoxy ether (hydrophobic HPMC) at concentrations around their overlap concentrations. Both HPMC types completely emulsified the silicone oil. However, the volume fraction of silicone oil in the emulsion prepared using hydrophobic HPMC was less than that that by the original HPMC, and the average oil droplet size in the former emulsion was less than that in the latter emulsion. Increasing HPMC concentration led to increase in both the amount of adsorbed polymer emulsifier and the storage moduli in the linear region, irrespective of which HPMC was used. Stress-strain sweep curves obtained by a rheo-optical method showed that emulsions stabilized by the hydrophobic HPMC flowed slowly, even beyond the yield stress, whereas emulsions prepared using the original HPMC flowed quickly beyond the yield stress. The storage moduli of the emulsions prepared by the hydrophobic HPMC were larger than those prepared using the original HPMC.     

海藻酸壳聚糖可塑性支架材料的制备及表征

利用海藻酸钠和壳聚糖2种原料, 采用阴阳离子静电复合原理, 通过滴注法层层自组装成可搭载药物的缓释微球, 再按一定比例与海藻酸钠-壳聚糖溶液混合制成缓释微球型支架材料, 将缓释微球结构嵌入疏松多孔海绵状结构中. 研究了缓释微球的组分比对缓释微球型支架材料的孔隙率、 收缩率、 亲水性及降解性能的影响; 扫描电子显微镜照片显示, 微球结构相对完整, 多孔海绵状结构孔径为140~200 μm; 支架浸出液细胞毒性检测实验组对照组未见差异. 缓释微球体积所占比例即组分比为10%的缓释微球型支架材料孔隙率最高为68.2%~70.8%, 亲水性最好, 收缩率最低为4.4%~5.2%; 支架降解速率随缓释微球组分比升高而减慢, 组分比为20%的缓释微球型支架材料综合性能更优; 缓释微球型支架材料冻干成型前为液态, 具有良好可塑性. 缓释微球型支架材料为缓释系统与多孔支架材料有机结合提供了新思路.     

Bioavailability studies of oral dosage forms containing levodopa and carbidopa using column-switching chromatography followed by electrochemical detection

A reliable multi-dimensional column chromatographic method employing amperometric detection using a carbon fibre microelectrode procedure was used for monitoring the plasma profiles and to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of levodopa (L-dopa) and carbidopa (C-dopa), after ingestion of oral formulations containing these drugs. The peak currents obtained for the different analytes were directly proportional to the analyte over the concentration range 0.02-4 micrograms ml-1. Using this method, the minimum detectable concentration was estimated to be 5 and 8 ng ml-1 for L-dopa and C-dopa, respectively. Recovery studies ranged from 93.83 to 89.76%, with a relative standard deviation of less than 7%. The study was carried out in two separate weeks on five healthy non-patient fasted male/female volunteers in the age range 20-37 years and weighing between 60 kg and 78 kg. The pharmacokinetic profile of two controlled-release products containing both L-dopa and C-dopa (Sinemet CR3 and CR4) was compared on the one hand and Sinemet conventional tablets on the other. The pharmacokinetic parameters, peak concentration (Cmax), the time taken to obtain this level (Tmax), elimination half-time T1/2, elimination rate constant (Kel), plasma level ratio, fluctuation index (FI) and the area under the time-concentration curve (AUC0-8), were investigated for each individual formulation. A comparison of the uptake of L-dopa from the conventional formulation showed that L-dopa entered the plasma and achieved peak levels higher than that of the controlled release formulations. However, it showed a much higher fluctuation index and the plasma concentrations were more stable with the controlled release formulations. The data also indicated a very low accumulation of both levodopa and carbidopa following repeated administration of the drugs, which was consistent with their relatively short half-lives (less than 2 h). In contrast, the half-life for the metabolite 3-orthomethyl dopa (3-OMD) is in the order of 13 h. As a result, there was an extensive accumulation of 3-OMD and its levels were significantly higher than those of levodopa or carbidopa upon repeated administration. Urine recoveries of the three analytes over one 8 h dosing interval showed that the majority of the excreted levodopa and carbidopa was recovered during the first 4 h, and there is proportionally greater excretion of the carbidopa dose than the levodopa dose.     

Cyclodextrins and the Biopharmaceutics Classification System of Drugs

Although the biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) was originally developed for solid oral dosage forms this system can be extended to other types of drug delivery forms. According to the BCS aqueous solubility and permeability are the most important parameters affecting drug bioavailability. Cyclodextrins can enhance the aqueous solubility of lipophilic drugs without changing their intrinsic ability to permeate biological membranes. Thus, through cyclodextrin complexation it is possible to move Class II drugs, and sometimes even Class IV drugs, into Class I. However, cyclodextrins can decrease bioavailability of Class I drugs and will in most cases not improve bioavailability of Class III drugs. Through formation of drug/cyclodextrin/polymer ternary complexes it is possible to enhance the complexation efficacy of cyclodextrins and at the same time improve drug bioavailability from cyclodextrin containing drug formulations.     

Factors affecting the loading efficiency of water-soluble drugs in PLGA microspheres

Poly(lactide-co-glycolide), PLGA, microspheres containing blue dextran as a hydrophilic model drug were prepared by a solvent evaporation method from w/o/w emulsions using a micro homogenizer. Effects of surfactant concentration in oil phase, stirring time period and stirring rate in the preparation procedure of primary emulsion (w/o) upon drug-loading efficiency were evaluated. Stirring rate during preparation of primary emulsion and surfactant concentration in oil phase affected drug-loading efficiency and the particle size of primary emulsion. Microspheres having the higher drug-loading efficiency were obtained when size differences between the primary emulsions and the secondary ones were large. That is, when the diameter of the primary emulsion is much smaller than that of the secondary emulsion, PLGA microspheres with high-loading efficiency of blue dextran were obtained.