Dario Voinovich

Processing of carbamazepine–PEG 4000 solid dispersions with supercritical carbon dioxide: preparation, characterisation, and in vitro dissolution

The purpose of this study was to apply the attractive technique of the supercritical fluid to the preparation of solvent-free solid dispersions. In particular, the gas antisolvent crystallisation technique (GAS), using supercritical carbon dioxide as processing medium, has been considered to prepare an enhanced release dosage form for of the poorly soluble carbamazepine, employing PEG 4000 as a hydrophilic carrier. The physical characterisation of the systems using laser granulometer, powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analyses, and scanning electron microscopy was carried out in order to understand the influence of this technological process on the physical status of the drug. The results of the physical characterisation attested a substantial correspondence of the solid state of the drug before and after treatment with GAS technique, whereas a pronounced change in size and morphology of the drug crystals was noticed. The dramatic reduction of the dimensions and the better crystal shape, together with the presence of the hydrophilic polymer determined a remarkable enhancement of the in vitro drug dissolution rate.

Formulation design of carbamazepine fast-release tablets prepared by melt granulation technique

This work describes a new approach to prepare a fast-release dosage form for carbamazepine (CBZ), involving the use of melt granulation process in high shear mixer for the production of tablets. In particular, the granules containing CBZ were prepared using polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 as a melting binder and lactose monohydrate as a hydrophilic filler. The potential of the intragranular addition of crospovidone as a dissolution enhancer and a disintegrant agent was also evaluated. After the analysis of their solid state performed by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the granules were characterised from the technological and dissolution point of view. The subsequent step encompassed the preparation and the evaluation of the tablets, including the effect of the extragranular introduction of crospovidone. Besides the remarkable enhancement of drug dissolution rate of the granulates in comparison to physical mixtures and pure drug, no significant differences were found between the dissolution profiles of the granulates containing lactose or crospovidone. However, the difficult disintegration and bad dissolution performance of the tablets not containing intragranular crospovidone highlight the necessity of this disintegrant in the granulating mixture. Moreover, the extragranular addition of a small amount of crospovidone gave rise to a further amelioration of the disintegration and dissolution performances.

Cocrystal Formation through Mechanochemistry: from Neat and Liquid‐Assisted Grinding to Polymer‐Assisted Grinding

Mechanochemistry is an effective method for the preparation of multicomponent crystal systems. In the present work, we propose an alternative to the established liquid-assisted grinding (LAG) approach. Polymer-assisted grinding (POLAG) is demonstrated to provide a new class of catalysts for improving reaction rate and increasing product diversity during mechanochemical cocrystallization reactions. We demonstrate that POLAG provides advantages comparable to the conventional liquid-assisted process, whilst eliminating the risk of unwanted solvate formation as well as enabling control of resulting particle size. It represents a new approach for the development of functional materials through mechanochemistry, and possibly opens new routes toward the understanding of the mechanisms and pathways of mechanochemical cocrystal formation.

Controlled release of verapamil hydrochloride from waxy microparticles prepared by spray congealing

In this work, the potential of waxes for preparing with the ultrasonic spray congealing technique microparticles for controlling the in vitro release of verapamil HCl was investigated. The first part of the study encompassed the optimisation of the formulation to achieve an efficient drug incorporation together with a satisfactory in vitro drug release rate. In particular, microcrystalline wax, stearyl alcohol and mixtures of the two were used. Also a surfactant (soya lecithin) was added to the formulations. After the particle size analysis, the characterisation of the microparticles involved the study of the solid state of drug and carriers in the systems (DSC, HSM and XRD) and the morphological and chemical analyses of the microparticle surface (SEM and XPS). Finally, the drug release mechanism from these devices was evaluated using the statistical moment analysis. The results of this study show that by selecting the type and the amount of the carriers, microparticles with a spherical shape and a good encapsulation efficiency were observed. These particles showed a zero-order release for 8 h, without modifying the solid state properties of the drug. Therefore, waxy microparticles prepared by the ultrasonic spray congealing technique are promising solvent-free devices for controlling the release of verapamil HCl.

Melatonin-loaded lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles: Physicochemical characterisation and permeability through Caco-2 cell monolayers

In this study, the potential of lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) as a mucoadhesive colloidal nanosystem for transmucosal delivery of melatonin was investigated. The size, zeta potential and melatonin loading of the lecithin/chitosan NPs were investigated as a function of lecithin type (Lipoid S45, S75 and S100) and chitosan content in the preparation. The NPs were characterised by mean diameter and zeta potential ranging between 121.6 and 347.5 nm, and 7.5 and 32.7 mV, respectively, and increasing with lecithin-negative charge and chitosan content in the preparation. Melatonin loadings were up to 7.1%. All NPs were characterised by prolonged release profiles with an initial burst (approximately 25%), followed by a slow release phase. Approximately 60-70% of melatonin was released in 4h. The permeability of melatonin was investigated using Caco-2 cells as an in vitro model of the epithelial barrier. Melatonin permeability from an NP suspension prepared with Lipoid S45 lecithin and a lecithin-to-chitosan weight ratio (L/C) of 20:1 (sample C2) was significantly improved compared to the permeability of melatonin from the solution (P<0.001) and from all other NPs investigated (P<0.05). The results obtained by the cell viability studies (MTT and LDH leakage assays) showed that C2 NP suspension did not induce plasma membrane damage or decrease cell viability and could be safely applied to Caco-2 cells in the concentration range tested (<400 microg/ml).

Preparation in high-shear mixer of sustained-release pellets by melt pelletisation.

The preparation of sustained-release pellets by melt pelletisation was investigated in a 10-l high shear mixer and ternary mixtures containing stearic acid as a melting binder, anhydrous lactose as a filler and theophylline as a model drug. A translated Doehlert matrix was applied for the optimisation of process variables and quality control of pellets characteristics. After determination of size distribution, the pellets were characterised with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and porosimetric analysis. Finally, the in vitro release from every single size fraction was evaluated and the release mechanism was analysed. Since the drug release rate decreased when enhancing the pellet size fraction, the 2000-microm fraction, exhibiting a substantially zero-order release, was selected for further in vivo biovailability studies. These data demonstrated that pellets based on the combination of stearic acid and lactose can be used to formulate sustained release pellets for theophylline.

Chitosan microspheres with hydrocortisone and hydrocortisone–hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex

In the present study, an inclusion complex composed of hydrocortisone acetate (HC) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPbetaCD) was prepared by the spray-drying method. HC alone, HC inclusion complex or HC with HPbetaCD as a physical mixture were incorporated into chitosan microspheres by spray-drying. The inclusion complex and microspheres were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Microspheres were studied with respect to particle size distribution, drug content and in vitro drug release. The results indicate that the HCHPbetaCD inclusion complex is more water soluble than HC alone. The HC release rates from chitosan microspheres were influenced by the drug/polymer ratio in the manner that an increase in the release rate was observed when the drug loading was decreased. However, release data from all samples showed significant improvement of the dissolution rate for HC, with 25-40% of the drug being released in the first hour compared with about 5% for pure HC. The complexation method and microsphere preparation method (spray-drying) is simple with great potential for industrial production.

Preparation of sustained release co-extrudates by hot-melt extrusion and mathematical modelling of in vitro/in vivo drug release profiles

Aim of this work was to develop a cylindrical co-extrudate characterised by an in vivo sustained release profile by means of a hot-melt extrusion process. Co-extrudate was made up of two concentric extruded matrices: an inner one having a hydrophilic character, based on polyethylene glycol, and an outer one with lipophilic character, based on microcrystalline wax. Both segments contained theophylline as a model drug. A screening between several devices differing for dimensions (diameter and length) and relative proportions of the inner and outer part was carried out on the basis of their in vitro drug release and the release mechanism was studied by means of a mathematical model. The co-extrudate exhibiting the desired sustained release was selected for in vivo bioavailability studies. In vivo studies confirmed the achievement of the purpose of the research, demonstrating the desired release of theophylline on four healthy volunteers. Accordingly, hot-melt extrusion process is a viable method to produce in a single step co-extrudates showing a sustained release. In addition, the developed mathematical model proved to be a reliable descriptor of the both in vitro and in vivo experimental data.

Oral bioavailability of silymarin phytocomplex formulated as self-emulsifying pellets.

The objective of this study was to develop new solid self-emulsifying pellets to deliver milk thistle extract (silymarin). These pellets were prepared via extrusion/spheronisation procedure, using a self-emulsifying system or SES (Akoline MCM®, Miglyol®, Tween 80®, soy lecithin and propylene glycol), microcrystalline cellulose and lactose monohydrate. To select the most suitable formulations for extrusion and spheronisation, an experimental design of experiences was adopted. The screening amongst formulations (13 different blends) was performed preparing pellets and evaluating extrusion profiles and quality of the spheronised extrudates. The pellets were characterised for size and shape, density, force required to crush them. Although more than one type of pellets demonstrated adequate morphological and technological characteristics, pellets prepared from formulation 7 revealed the best properties and were selected for further biopharmaceutical investigations, including in vitro dissolution and in vivo trials on rats to study serum and lymph levels after oral administration of the pellets. These preliminary technological and pharmacokinetic data demonstrated that extrusion/spheronisation is a viable technology to produce self-emulsifying pellets of good quality and able to improve in vivo oral bioavailability of main components of a phytotherapeutic extract of more than 100 times by enhancing the lymphatic route of absorption.

Formulation and Evaluation of Vinylpyrrolidone/Vinylacetate Copolymer Microspheres with Carbamazepine

Vinylpyrrolidone/vinylacetate copolymer (VP/VAc) was used for the enhancement of dissolution rate of carbamazepine, an antiepileptic drug characterized by very low water solubility. Microspheres containing different drug-to-polymer ratios were prepared using a solvent-evaporation technique and their physical characterizations were carried out by differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffractometry, and scanning electron microscopy. Through the solubilization kinetics and dissolution rates studies, the in vitro drug availability of the microspheres was evaluated. These results showed that the dissolution of carbamazepine in gastrointestinal fluids from all of the prepared formulations was increased with respect to the drug itself. However, the best dissolution parameters were obtained from 1:10 w/w system because of the presence of the drug in amorphous form and its efficient encapsulation.