Saroj K. Ghosal

Nonionic Surfactant Vesicles (Niosomes) of Cytarabine Hydrochloride for Effective Treatment of Leukemias: Encapsulation, Storage, and In Vitro Release

Niosome vesicles of cytarabine hydrochloride were prepared by a lipid hydration method that excluded dicetylphosphate. The sizes of the vesicles obtained ranged from 600 to 1000 nm, with the objective of producing more blood levels in vivo. The study of the release of drug from niosomes exhibited a prolonged release profile as studied over a period of 16 hr. The drug entrapment efficiency was about 80% with Tween 80, Span 60 and Tween 20; for Span 80, it was 67.5%. The physical stability profile of vesicular suspension was good as studied over a period of 4 weeks.

Enhanced In Vitro Percutaneous Absorption and In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Effect of a Selective Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor Using Microemulsion

Celecoxib, a specific COX-2 inhibitor, was recently approved for the treatment of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, acute pain, familial adenomatous polyposis and primary dysmenorrhea. Oral administration of celecoxib is effective against ultraviolet B radiation (UVB)-induced skin carcinogenesis; however, its clinical use is restricted because of its failure to block the characteristic cutaneous inflammatory response and lower availability at the site of inflammation. Topical application of celecoxib has been effective compared with oral in certain clinical conditions. The present study was undertaken to develop and investigate the development of microemulsion system (isopropyl myristate/medium-chain glyceride/polysorbate 80/water) for topical delivery of celecoxib. The pseudoternary phase diagram was constructed with constant surfactant concentration, and several compositions were identified and characterized by using dynamic light scattering. The in vitro permeation rate of celecoxib through rat skin was determined for microemulsions, microemulsion gel, and cream by using the modified Franz-type diffusion cell. In all formulations tested, celecoxib permeated more quickly, and the microemulsions increased the permeation rate of celecoxib up to 5 and 11 times compared with those of microemulsion gel and cream, respectively. Increasing the concentration of medium-chain mono-/di-glyceride in microemulsion imparted increased droplet size and viscosity and decreased diffusion coefficient. In vivo anti-inflammatory study suggested that the developed microemulsion formulations might serve as potential drug vehicle for the prevention of UVB-induced skin cancer.

The Effect of pH and Organic Ester Penetration Enhancers on Skin Permeation Kinetics of Terbutaline Sulfate From Pseudolatex-Type Transdermal Delivery Systems Through Mouse and Human Cadaver Skins

The purpose of this research was to prepare a pseudolatex transdermal delivery system for terbutaline sulfate and to evaluate the effect of pH and organic ester penetration enhancers on permeation kinetics of terbutaline sulfate through mice abdominal skin and human cadaver skin. An increase in the permeation flux by increasing pH was observed. The distribution coefficient of terbutaline sulfate between 1-octanol and buffers of different pH values was also pH-dependent. Furthermore, the change of the permeability coefficient with pH correlated well with the distribution coefficient by a 2-degree polynomial equation. The permeation profile and related kinetic parameters of terbutaline sulfate was determined in presence of 3 estertype permeation enhancers incorporated in the films, viz methyl laureate, isopropyl lanolate, and isopropyl myristate. Among the 3, the more pronounced enhancing effect was obtained with isopropyl myristate, regarding the permeatin flux, permeability coefficient, and diffusion coefficient. This was attributed to solubility parameter of isopropyl myristate being closer to the solubility parameter of human skin, and such a pronounced enhancing effect was probably caused by its passage across the skin barrier through the lipid pathway.

Preparation, Characterization, and Biodistribution of Letrozole Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles in Ehrlich Ascites Tumor Bearing Mice

Letrozole (LTZ) incorporated PLGA nanoparticles were prepared by solvent displacement technique and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, poly-dispersity index and zeta potential measurement. Radiolabeling of free LTZ and LTZ-loaded PLGA NPs was performed with technetium-99m with high labeling efficiency. The labeled complex showed good in vitro stability as verified by DTPA challenge test. The labeled complexes also showed significant in vivo stability when incubated in rat serum for 24 h. Biodistribution studies of (99m)Tc-labeled complexes were performed after intravenous administration in normal mice and Ehrlich Ascites tumor bearing mice. Compared to free LTZ, LTZ-loaded PLGA NPs exhibited significantly lower uptake by the organs of RES. The tumor concentration of LTZ-loaded PLGA NPs was 4.65 times higher than that of free LTZ at 4 h post-injection. This study indicates the capability of PLGA nanopartcles in enhancing the tumor uptake of letrozole.

Effect of permeation enhancers on the release and permeation kinetics of Lincomycin hydrochloride gel formulations through mouse skin

Lincomycin hydrochloride is a systemic antibiotic, which is active against most common gram positive bacteria. It has proved to be excellent for infectious diseases like acne, anthrax, pneumonia, and also for the treatment of furunculosis, carbuncles, impetigo, burns and wounds, carrying to gram positive bacteria. Gels were prepared using carbopol 940 as gelling agent, and isopropyl myristate and dimethyl sulfoxide as permeation enhancer. The formulations were evaluated for drug content, viscosity, pH, extrudability, homogeneity, skin irritation test, spreadability, and gel strength. A formulation containing 1.5% carbopol with 10% isopropyl myristate, showed better in vitro skin permeation through abdominal mouse skin, and was found to be the best.

Transdermal delivery of trazodone hydrochloride from acrylic films prepared from aqueous latex

Trazodone hydrochloride has not been previously investigated and reported for potential administration through transdermal route. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out to study the effect of polymeric composition, drug content and plasticizer on the permeation of trazodone hydrochloride across the mouse epidermis for the development of transdermal therapeutic system. The pseudolatex films with different combination of polymers, plasticizer and drug were prepared from aqueous colloidal polymer dispersions. The polymers used were Eudragit RL100 and RS100. Triethylcitrate was used as plasticizer. The in vitro release and skin permeation through mouse epidermis from the prepared films were studied using Keshary-Chien diffusion cell. The in vitro drug release increased with increasing amount of Eudragit RL100 in the film. It was observed that the maximum skin permeability was attained at a loading dose of 10% w/w in the film. The in vitro flux decreased gradually at higher concentration up to 13% w/w. The present study has demonstrated the potential of the fabricated pseudolatex transdermal films for sustained release of trazodone hydrochloride. The concentration of triethylcitrate in the film markedly affected the skin permeation properties of trazodone hydrochloride.

Effect of different terpene-containing essential oils on percutaneous absorption of trazodone hydrochloride through mouse epidermis.

The aim of our study was to investigate the enhancing effect of several essential oils in the percutaneous absorption of trazodone hydrochloride (TZN). For this purpose, fennel oil, eucalyptus oil, citronella oil, and mentha oil were applied on the skin membrane in three different ways: included in the transdermal device, as a pretreatment, or both. To investigate the effect of penetration enhancers used in this study on the percutaneous absorption of TZN through mouse epidermis, Keshary-Chien diffusion cells were employed. The receptor phase was constantly stirring saline phosphate buffer of pH 7.4 at 37 ± 1°C. Results showed that pretreatment of skin with essential oils increases the flux values of TZN compared with the values obtained when the same essential oils were included in the transdermal devices. The percutaneous penetration flux for TZN was increased with skin pretreatment by 10% essential oils in the following order: fennel oil > eucalyptus oil > citronella oil > mentha oil. The amount of TZN retained in the skin after pretreatment with essential oils was found to be very similar in all cases and much higher than in the experiments without skin pretreatment.

Formulation and in Vitro — In Vivo Characterization of Solid Dispersions of Piroxicam

AbstractThe present work embodies studies performed with solid dispersions of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent piroxicam, using biocompatible water soluble polymers polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 and 6000 alone, as well as in blends of various proportions. Different physicochemical properties and in vitro characterization were carried out. In vivo studies were performed to correlate with in vitro studies.

Controlled Theophylline Release from Microcapsules of Acrylic & Methacrylic Acid Ester Copolymer

AbstractThe goal of this work was to develop a suitable method for microencapsulation of theophylline using copolymer of acrylate and methacrylate ester (EUDRAGIT) as the coating material. The effect of protective colloids on the process of microencapsulation was evaluated. The in vitro studies revealed significant control of drug release for the developed dosage form. Individually, the polymer coated drug particles of different core: coat ratio and different proportions of protective colloids were found to influence the pharmacokinetic parameters as revealed from the in vivo bioavailability studies in gastric-emptying controlled rabbits. In vivo bioavailability data were compared using Westlakes confidence limit.