Sandra Cvijić

Viscosity-mediated negative food effect on oral absorption of poorly-permeable drugs with an absorption window in the proximal intestine: In vitro experimental simulation and computational verification.

Concomitant food intake can diminish oral absorption of drugs with limited permeability and an absorption window in the proximal intestine, due to viscosity-mediated decrease in dosage form disintegration time and drug dissolution rate. Three poorly-permeable drugs (atenolol, metformin hydrochloride, and furosemide) exhibiting negative food effect, and one highly-soluble and highly-permeable (metoprolol tartrate), serving as a negative control, were selected for the study. In vitro and in silico tools were used to evaluate the influence of media viscosity on drug bioperformance under fasted and fed conditions. The obtained results demonstrated that increased medium viscosity in the presence of food is one of the key factors limiting oral absorption of drugs with limited permeability and absorption restricted to the upper parts of the intestine, while having negligible effect on pharmacokinetic profile of drugs with pH- and site-independent absorption. Dissolution medium pH 4.6 with the addition of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose was suggested to simulate postprandial gastric conditions for drugs whose solubility under these conditions is not the limiting factor for drug absorption. In addition, drug formulation was found to be an interfering factor in relation to the impact of medium viscosity on the rate and extent of drug absorption.

Dry powder inhalers: An overview of the in vitro dissolution methodologies and their correlation with the biopharmaceutical aspects of the drug products

Abstract In vitro dissolution testing is routinely used in the development of pharmaceutical products. Whilst the dissolution testing methods are well established and standardized for oral dosage forms, i.e. tablets and capsules, there are no pharmacopoeia methods or regulatory requirements for testing the dissolution of orally inhaled powders. Despite this, a wide variety of dissolution testing methods for orally inhaled powders has been developed and their bio‐relevance has been evaluated. This review provides an overview of the in vitro dissolution methodologies for dry inhalation products, with particular emphasis on dry powder inhalers, where the dissolution behavior of the respirable particles can have a role on duration and absorption of the drug. Dissolution mechanisms of respirable particles as well as kinetic models have been presented. A more recent biorelevant dissolution set‐ups and media for studying inhalation biopharmaceutics were also reviewed. In addition, factors affecting interplay between dissolution and absorption of deposited particles in the context of biopharmaceutical considerations of inhalation products were examined. Graphical abstract Figure. No caption available.

Improvement of trospium-specific absorption models for fasted and fed states in humans

The purpose of this study was to mechanistically interpret the oral absorption pattern of trospium in fasted and fed states by means of gastrointestinal simulation technology. A drug absorption model was built on the basis of experimental data. According to the generated model, low permeability across the intestinal epithelium, delayed gastric emptying time and a prolonged residence time in the small intestine are the key factors governing trospium absorption in the fasted state. Furthermore, in silico modelling provided a plausible explanation of the pronounced reduction in the oral bioavailability of trospium when administered with food. The simulation results support the decreased dissolution in viscous medium, and the reduced drug permeability in the fed state as the predominant mechanisms for the food effect on trospium absorption.

Coupled in silico platform: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling

Abstract One of the critical components of the respiratory drug delivery is the manner in which the inhaled aerosol is deposited in respiratory tract compartments. Depending on formulation properties, device characteristics and breathing pattern, only a certain fraction of the dose will reach the target site in the lungs, while the rest of the drug will deposit in the inhalation device or in the mouth–throat region. The aim of this study was to link the Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling in order to predict aerolisolization of different dry powder formulations, and estimate concomitant in vivo deposition and absorption of amiloride hydrochloride. Drug physicochemical properties were experimentally determined and used as inputs for the CFD simulations of particle flow in the generated 3D geometric model of Aerolizer® dry powder inhaler (DPI). CFD simulations were used to simulate air flow through Aerolizer® inhaler and Discrete Phase Method (DPM) was used to simulate aerosol particles deposition within the fluid domain. The simulated values for the percent emitted dose were comparable to the values obtained using Andersen cascade impactor (ACI). However, CFD predictions indicated that aerosolized DPI have smaller particle size and narrower size distribution than assumed based on ACI measurements. Comparison with the literature in vivo data revealed that the constructed drug‐specific PBPK model was able to capture amiloride absorption pattern following oral and inhalation administration. The PBPK simulation results, based on the CFD generated particle distribution data as input, illustrated the influence of formulation properties on the expected drug plasma concentration profiles. The model also predicted the influence of potential changes in physiological parameters on the extent of inhaled amiloride absorption. Overall, this study demonstrated the potential of the combined CFD‐PBPK approach to model inhaled drug bioperformance, and suggested that CFD generated results might serve as input for the prediction of drug deposition pattern in vivo. Graphical abstract Figure. No caption available.

Assessing the potential of solid dispersions to improve dissolution rate and bioavailability of valsartan: In vitro-in silico approach

ABSTRACT This study aimed to improve dissolution rate of valsartan in an acidic environment and consequently its oral bioavailability by solid dispersion formulation. Valsartan was selected as a model drug due to its low oral bioavailability (˜23%) caused by poor solubility of this drug in the low pH region of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and presence of absorption window in the upper part of GIT. Solid dispersions were prepared by solvent evaporation method with Eudragit® E100, Soluplus® or polyvinylpyrrolidone K25 (PVP K25) in drug:polymer weight ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 and 1:6 and further subjected to solid‐state characterization and in vitro drug dissolution testing in 0.1M HCl. The expected drug plasma concentration vs. time profiles after oral administration of the selected solid dispersion formulations were predicted using physiologically‐based in silico modeling. Fast and complete dissolution of valsartan, with >80% of dissolved drug within the first 10min of testing, was observed only from solid dispersions prepared with Eudragit® E100 in drug:polymer ratios of 1:2, 1:4 and 1:6. In all other samples, valsartan dissolution was slow and incomplete. Solid‐state characterization showed amorphous nature of both pure drug and solid dispersion samples, as well as favourable intermolecular interactions between valsartan and polymers over interactions between drug molecules. The constructed in silico model predicted >40% of increase in valsartan bioavailability, Cmax and AUC values from selected solid dispersion formulations compared to conventional solid oral dosage form such as IR capsules. Based on the results of the in vitro‐in silico study, formulation of solid dispersions of valsartan with Eudragit® E100 polymer can be considered as a promising approach for improving valsartan bioavailability.

In vitro/in silico approach in the development of simvastatin-loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems

Abstract Objective: The aims of this study were to formulate simvastatin (SV)-loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS), and explore the potential of these drug delivery systems to improve SV solubility, and also to identify the optimal place in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract for the release of SV using coupled in vitro/in silico approach. Significance: In comparison to other published results, this study considered the extensive pre-systemic clearance of SV, which could significantly decrease its systemic and hepatic bioavailability if SV is delivered into the small intestine. Methods: SV-loaded SMEDDS were formulated using various proportions of oils (PEG 300 oleic glycerides, propylene glycol monocaprylate, propylene glycol monolaurate), surfactant (PEG 400 caprylic/capric glycerides) and cosurfactant (polysorbate 80) and subjected to characterization, and physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. Results: According to the in vitro results, the selected SMEDDS consisted of 10.0% PEG 300 oleic glycerides, 67.5% PEG 400 caprylic/capric glycerides, and 22.5% polysorbate 80. The use of acid-resistant capsules filled with SV-loaded SMEDDS was found helpful in protecting the drug against early degradation in proximal parts of the GI tract, however, in silico simulations indicated that pH-controlled drug release system that dissolve in the distal parts of the intestine might further improve SV bioavailability (up to 7.20%). Conclusion: The obtained results suggested that combined strategy for the improvement of SV bioavailability should comprise solubility enhancement and delayed drug release. The developed SV-specific PBPK model could potentially be used to assess the influence of formulation factors on drug absorption and disposition when developing SV oral dosage forms.

Assessing the risk of alcohol-induced dose dumping from sustained-release oral dosage forms: in vitro–in silico approach

Abstract Consumption of alcoholic beverages with sustained-release oral dosage forms may pose a risk to patients due to potential alcohol-induced dose dumping (ADD). Regulatory guidances recommend in vitro dissolution testing to identify the risk of ADD, but the question remains whether currently proposed test conditions can be considered biopredictive. The purpose of this study was to evaluate different dissolution setups to assess ADD, and the potential of combined in vitro–in silico approach to predict drug absorption after concomitant alcohol intake for hydrophilic and lipophilic sustained-release tablets containing ibuprofen or diclofenac sodium. According to the obtained results, the impact of ethanol was predominantly governed by the influence on matrix integrity, with the increase in drug solubility being less significant. Hydrophilic matrix tablets were less susceptible to ADD than lipophilic matrices, although the conclusion on formulation ethanol-vulnerability depended on the employed experimental conditions. In silico predictions indicated that the observed changes in drug dissolution would not result in plasma concentrations beyond therapeutic window, but sustained-release characteristics of the formulations might be lost. Overall, the study demonstrated that in vitro–in silico approach may provide insight into the effect of ADD on drug clinical performance, and serve as a tool for ADD risk assessment.