Harmanpreet Singh

Systematic Development of Transethosomal Gel System of Piroxicam: Formulation Optimization, In Vitro Evaluation, and Ex Vivo Assessment

Piroxicam is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other inflammatory diseases. Upon oral administration, it is reported to cause ulcerative colitis, gastrointestinal irritation, edema and peptic ulcer. Hence, an alternative delivery system has been designed in the form of transethosome. The present study describes the preparation, optimization, characterization, and ex vivo study of piroxicam-loaded transethosomal gel using the central composite design. On the basis of the prescreening study, the concentration of lipids and ethanol was kept in the range of 2–4% w/v and 0–40% v/v, respectively. Formulation was optimized by measuring drug retention in the skin, drug permeation, entrapment efficiency, and vesicle size. Optimized formulation was incorporated in hydrogel and compared with other analogous vesicular (liposomes, ethosomes, and transfersomes) gels for the aforementioned responses. Among the various lipids used, soya phosphatidylcholine (SPL 70) and ethanol in various percentages were found to affect drug retention in the skin, drug permeation, vesicle size, and entrapment efficiency. The optimized batch of transethosome has shown 392.730xa0μgxa0cm−2 drug retention in the skin, 44.312xa0μgxa0cm−2xa0h−1 drug permeation, 68.434% entrapment efficiency, and 655.369xa0nm vesicle size, respectively. It was observed that the developed transethosomes were found superior in all the responses as compared to other vesicular formulations with improved stability and highest elasticity. Similar observations were noted with its gel formulation.

ETHOSOMES AND TRANSFERSOMES: PRINCIPLES, PERSPECTIVES AND PRACTICES.

BACKGROUNDnThe success story of liposomes in the treatment of systemic infectious diseases and various carcinomas lead the scientists to the innovation of elastic vesicles to achieve similar success through transdermal route. In this direction, ethosomes and transfersomes were developed with the objective to design the vesicles that could pass through the skin. However, there is a lack of systematic review outlining the principles, method of preparation, latest advancement and applications of ethosomes and transfersomes. This review covers various aspects that would be helpful to scientists in understanding advantages of these vesicular systems and designing a unique nano vesicular delivery system.nnnMETHODSnStructured search of bibliographic databases for previously published peer-reviewed research papers was explored and data was culminated in terms of principle of these vesicular delivery systems, composition, mechanism of actions, preparation techniques, methods for their characterization and their application.nnnRESULTSnA total of 182 papers including both, research and review articles, were included in this review in order to make the article comprehensive and readily understandable. The mechanism of action and composition of ethosomes and transfersomes was extensively discussed. Various methods of preparation such as, rotary film evaporation method, reverse phase evaporation method, vortex/ sonication method, ethanol injection method, freeze thaw methods, along with their advantages has been discussed. It was also discussed that both these elastic nanocarriers offer unique advantages of ferrying the drug across membranes, sustaining drug release as well as protecting the encapsulated bio actives from external environment. The enhanced bioavailability and skin penetration of ethosomes as compared to conventional vesicular delivery systems is attributed to the presence of ethanol in the bilayers while that for transfersomes accrues due to their elasticity along with their ability to retain their shape because of the presence of edge activators. Successful delivery of synthetic drugs as well as phytomedicines has been extensively reported through these vesicles.nnnCONCLUSIONnThough these vesicular systems offer a good potential for rational drug delivery, a thoughtfully designed process is required to optimize the process variables involved. Industrial scale production of efficacious, safe, cost effective and stable formulations of both these delivery systems appears to be a pre-requisite to ensure their utility as the trans-dermal vehicles.

Sublingual Delivery of Frovatriptan: An Indication of Potential Alternative Route

Frovatriptan, a 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptor agonist, is used for the treatment of acute migraine attack. This molecule is classified into second line therapy because of its slow onset of action (peak response obtained after 4 hours of administration) and low bioavailability (25%). Moreover, its therapy is the most costly among all triptans. Attempt has been made in present work to suggest a way out to fasten its onset of action and to enhance its bioavailability. Prepared tablets were evaluated by physicochemical tests, in vitro permeation studies, ex vivo permeation studies, and histopathological studies. Suitable mathematical calculations were performed to calculate the minimum amount of bioavailability that could be enhanced. Tablets containing chitosan (5% w/w) were found to give optimum results. Prepared tablets can double the bioavailability of frovatriptan and can initiate its response within 10 minutes of its administration. Suggestive alternative has the potential to increase the efficacy of frovatriptan for treating acute migraine attack.

Optimization and Evaluation of Desloratadine Oral Strip: An Innovation in Paediatric Medication

Patients, especially children, are the most difficult to treat in all groups of population mainly because they can not swallow the solid dosage form. Due to this reason they are often prescribed liquid dosage forms. But these formulations have their own disadvantages (lack of dose accuracy during administration, spitting by children, spillage, lack of stability, difficulty in transportation, etc.). Oral strip technology is one such technology to surpass these disadvantages. Desloratadine, a descarboethoxy derivative of loratadine, is a second generation antihistaminic drug approved for usage in allergic rhinitis among paediatric population and is available in markets as suspension. An attempt has been made to design and optimize the oral strip containing desloratadine as an active ingredient. Oral strip was optimized with the help of optimal experimental design using polymer concentration, plasticizer type, and plasticizer concentration as independent variables. Prepared oral strips were evaluated for physicochemical parameter, mechanical strength parameters, disintegration time, dissolution, surface pH, and moisture sorption tendency. Optimized formulation was further evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, moisture content, and histological alteration in oral mucosa. Accelerated stability studies were also carried out for optimized formulations. Results were analysed with the help of various statistical tools at P < 0.05 and P < 0.01.

A Stability Indicating Assay Method Development and Validation for the Frovatriptan Succinate Monohydrate by Using UV: A Spectrophotometric Technique

A new simple, reliable, inexpensive, and accurate method was developed for the quantification of Frovatriptan Succinate Monohydrate in different physiological media at 244u2009nm in bulk and in tablet dosage forms. The developed method is an attempt to surpass the disadvantages associated with the reported methods, namely, less sensitive and tedious in usage for routine purposes. Beer’s law was followed over the range of 1.0u2009µg/mL to 4.5u2009µg/mL. Stability indicating assay method was developed and validated as per the ICH guidelines using various parameters, for example, accuracy, precision, limit of quantification, limit of detection, robustness, ruggedness, solution stability, recovery, forced degradation (hydrolysis, photo degradation, thermal degradation, and oxidation), and so forth. Percent relative standard deviation associated with all the parameters was less than 2, showing compliance with the acceptance criteria of ICH guidelines. The developed method was very sensitive as limit of quantification and limit of detection were found to be 0.025u2009µg/mL and 0.00625u2009µg/mL, respectively. Forced degradation studies of drug reveal good stability under the chosen experimental conditions.

Influence of hydrophilic polymers addition into cinnarizine–β-cyclodextrin complexes on drug solubility, drug liberation behaviour and drug permeability

The aims of this study were (1) to prepare cinnarizine (CNZ)–β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) complexes by the kneading, co-precipitation and co-evaporation methods with (ternary system) or without (binary system) the addition of two different hydrophilic polymers [hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)] in their two different grades (HPMC E5-LV or K4M and PVP K-25 or K-30) and (2) to determine the polymers influence on enhancing the CNZ solubility and the in vitro CNZ liberation behaviour or drug permeation characteristics via artificial membrane from the prepared CNZ–β-CD binary and ternary complexes in 0.1xa0N HCl (pH 1.2). The presence of hydrophilic polymers in ternary complex system did produce irregular-shaped but smooth-surfaced particles while binary complex system (with no polymer addition) did not. The ternary complexes prepared with HPMC K4M, β-CD and CNZ showed higher solubility efficiency value compared to other tested hydrophilic polymers to make ternary complex systems. Consequently, irrespective of the three preparation methods, the ternary complex systems exhibited higher drug libration behaviour in comparison to the binary complex system, physical mixtures and CNZ powder. But because of the possible presence of a solubility and permeability interplay or tradeoff particularly in the binary and ternary complex systems, the CNZ permeation amount in 0.1xa0N HCl (pH 1.2) via artificial membrane was established to a minimum compared to the CNZ powder. Therefore, the CNZ–β-CD complexes with or without the HPMC and PVP should unequivocally be used with great care by considering the solubility–permeability interplay or tradeoff into account.

Objective Assessment of Orthopaedic Skills

Medical education is moving away from facilitator driven to learner-centered, patient focused education.1 This has changed the emphasis to gaining practical skills as opposed to theoretical knowledge. Surgical disciplines call for psycho motor skills that are traditionally learned by practice on live patients. Simulation provides a good alternative without inherent risk to the patients.2 For example, task trainers have been used to teach/learn basic skills such as cannulation and venipuncture.3 Orthopedic office procedures are commonly used by many general practitioners and internists as part of their daily practice4,5 and are useful for medical students to learn. However it has been noted that these are not adequately taught during medical training,6 and that there is no organized training of such skills in most medical curricula. Realizing the need to teach these skills in an organized manner Vogelgesang et al. developed an instructional program to teach aspiration and injection techniques of the knee and shoulder to medical students and residents. They used didactic lecture and hands-on workshop using anatomical models made of synthetic materials. They found that didactic and workshop trained students outperformed the traditional group and were more confident in doing procedures.7 We have been using task trainers for teaching various techniques such as injections for carpal tunnel, trigger finger with tenosynovitis and knee joint lavage. At present these skills are being taught in a nonsystematic manner and we do not have an objective method of evaluating them. We decided to systematize the delivery and evaluation of these skills using our existing task trainers in order to deliver standardized, uniform and comprehensive training in these skills for students posted in orthopaedics.