Miha Homar

Sodium ascorbyl phosphate in topical microemulsions

Sodium ascorbyl phosphate is a hydrophilic derivative of ascorbic acid, which has improved stability arising from its chemical structure. It is used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations since it has many favorable effects in the skin, the most important being antioxidant action. In order to achieve this, it has to be converted into free ascorbic acid by enzymatic degradation in the skin. In the present work, o/w and w/o microemulsions composed of the same ingredients, were selected as carrier systems for topical delivery of sodium ascorbyl phosphate. We showed that sodium ascorbyl phosphate was stable in both types of microemulsion with no significant influence of its location in the carrier system. To obtain liquid microemulsions appropriate for topical application, their viscosity was increased by adding thickening agents. On the basis of rheological characterization, 4.00% (m/m) colloidal silica was chosen as a suitable thickening agent for w/o microemulsions and 0.50% (m/m) xanthan gum for the o/w type. The presence of thickening agent and the location of sodium ascorbyl phosphate in the microemulsion influenced the in vitro drug release profiles. When incorporated in the internal aqueous phase, sustained release profiles were observed. This study confirmed microemulsions as suitable carrier systems for topical application of sodium ascorbyl phosphate.

Influence of polymers on the bioavailability of microencapsulated celecoxib.

Celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, primarily used in treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and acute pain was encapsulated in microparticles composed of various polyesters, polymethacrylates or cellulose derivatives used alone or blended. The influence of polymers on microparticle mean diameter, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro and in vivo celecoxib release was investigated. Microparticles were in the size range 11–37 µm. Encapsulation efficiency was optimal due to poor aqueous solubility of celecoxib. Considering in vitro release, microparticles could be divided into drug delivery systems with fast and slow release profiles. Microparticles prepared with poly-ε-caprolactone, Eudragit® RS and low viscosity ethylcellulose, together with physical mixture of celecoxib with lactose and Celebrex®, were tested in vivo. Relative bioavailability of celecoxib was below 20% in all cases and was probably the consequence of a slow in vivo release of celecoxib from microparticles or low wettability in the case of Celebrex® and physical mixture.

Preparation of microcapsules with self-microemulsifying core by a vibrating nozzle method

Incorporation of drugs in self-microemulsifying systems (SMES) offers several advantages for their delivery, the main one being faster drug dissolution and absorption. Formulation of SMES in solid dosage forms can be difficult and, to date, most SMES are applied in liquid dosage form or soft gelatin capsules. This study has explored the incorporation of SMES in microcapsules, which could then be used for formulation of solid dosage forms. An Inotech IE-50 R encapsulator equipped with a concentric nozzle was used to produce alginate microcapsules with a self-microemulsifying core. Retention of the core phase was improved by optimization of encapsulator parameters and modification of the shell forming phase and hardening solution. The mean encapsulation efficiency of final batches was more than 87%, which resulted in 0.07% drug loading. It was demonstrated that production of microcapsules with a self-microemulsifying core is possible and that the process is stable and reproducible.

Preparation and evaluation of celecoxib-loaded microcapsules with self-microemulsifying core

The purpose of this study was to prepare alginate microcapsules with a self-microemulsifying system (SMES) containing celecoxib in the core. An Inotech IE-50 R encapsulator equipped with a concentric nozzle was used to prepare the microcapsules. The encapsulated SMES was shown to increase celecoxib solubility over that of the pure drug more than 400-fold. Microcapsules prepared with a high SMES:celecoxib ratio exhibited distinct core vesicles containing liquid SMES. By modifying the SMES and including an additional chitosan coating, drug loading in the range from 12–40% could be achieved with the degree of encapsulation ranging from 60–82%. Alginate microcapsules loaded with SMES and celecoxib showed increased dissolution rate of celecoxib over that of alginate microcapsules loaded with celecoxib or of the celecoxib alone. Compared to the previous report, drug loading capacity was significantly improved, enabling the formulation of dosage forms which are of suitable size for peroral application.

Preparation and Characterization of Tablet Formulation based on Solid Dispersion of Glimepiride and Poly(ester amide) Hyperbranched Polymer

The feasibility of incorporating a solid dispersion containing poorly soluble antidiabetic drug glimepiride and poly(ester amide) hyperbranched polymer into a tablet using a direct-compression tabletting technique was investigated. Tablet cores were additionally coated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate in order to protect the extremely hygroscopic solid dispersion from atmospheric moisture. Preliminary stability studies show that glimepiride, which is in amorphous form within solid dispersion, is chemically stable, even if tablets are exposed to elevated temperature and/or moisture. In-vitro dissolution studies show some impact of storage conditions on the tablet cores disintegration time and, consequently, drug release rate. Glimepiride solubility also deteriorates somewhat, most probably due to its partial recrystallization. Storage conditions much less affect the physical stability of coated tablets, which was ascribed to reduced tablet hygroscopicity due to the presence of protecting coating. The hyperbranched polymers are rather new and complex macromolecules. Therefore, we addressed also the biocompatibility of hyperbranched polymer, i.e., its impact on haemolysis of the red blood cells. The concentration required for the haemolytic effect on the red blood cells is around 100-times higher than its expected gastrointestinal luminal concentration, which makes the occurrence of hyperbranched polymer mediated cytotoxicity very unlikely.

Reduced intravenous toxicity of amiodarone nanosuspension in mice and rats

The toxicity of amiodarone Lek formulation (test formulation) was investigated after a single intravenous (i.v.) administration to mice and rats. When compared to the reference item, Cordarone (Cordarone®; Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc., Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA), median lethal dose (LD50) after i.v. administration in female mice was 294.0 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) for the test formulation and 227.5 mg/kg b.w. for Cordarone. In female rats after i.v. administration, the LD50 value was 269.9 mg/kg b.w. for the test formulation and 192.4 mg/kg b.w. for Cordarone. By altering the particle size of amiodarone in the Lek formulation, we were able to improve the solubility of amiodarone, thereby decreasing the number and quantity of excipients needed for preparation of the i.v. formulation and, consequently, reduced the acute toxic effects observed in the present study.

Toward effective long-term prevention of thromboembolism: novel oral anticoagulant delivery systems.

Despite intensive research in the field of oral anticoagulants over the last decade, simple and effective long-term prevention of thromboembolism is still an unmet need. In addition to drug discovery approaches, the development of novel oral drug delivery systems (DDSs) of clinically well-established anticoagulants presents an intriguing mean of improvement of anticoagulant therapy. The latter topic is therefore the focus of the present review. All relevant clinical trials with anticoagulants formulated in the oral DDS are reviewed, and selected preclinical examples of promising novel anticoagulant DDSs are also described. For greater understanding, a background on DDS and drug absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is also provided. Three leading approaches for the oral anticoagulant DDS are currently being investigated in clinical settings, all relying on coadministration of anticoagulants with specific carriers. In contrast to the clinical setting, a diverse range of possibilities for oral delivery of anticoagulant are being investigated in preclinical trials (e.g., nanotechnology), and it would be therefore interesting to examine their performance in clinical trials.

Microparticles based on low melting hydrophilic polymers prepared by spray drying

The enhancement of dissolution rate is one of the most commonly used approaches to improve the bioavailability of drugs, since for a great extent of new drug substances their absorption is limited with their dissolution rate. [...]