Toshio Kashihara

In Vitro and in Vivo Evaluation of Mucoadhesive Microspheres Prepared for the Gastrointestinal Tract Using Polyglycerol Esters of Fatty Acids and a Poly(acrylic acid) Derivative

Two types of polyglycerol ester of fatty acid (PGEF)-based microspheres were prepared: Carbopol 934P (CP)-coated microspheres (CPC-microspheres) and CP-dispersion microspheres (CPD-microspheres). Comparative studies on mucoadhesion were done with these microspheres and PGEF-based microspheres without CP (PGEF-microspheres). In an in vitro adhesion test, the CPD-microspheres adhered strongly to mucosa prepared from rat stomach and small intestine because each CP particle in the CPD-microsphere was hydrated and swelled with part of it remaining within the microsphere and part extending to the surface serving to anchor the microsphere to the mucus layer. The gastrointestinal transit patterns after administration of the CPD-microspheres and PGEF-microspheres to fasted rats were fitted to a model in which the microspheres are emptied from the stomach monoexponentially with a lag time and then transit through the small intestine at zero-order. Parameters obtained by curve fitting confirmed that the gastrointestinal transit time of the CPD-microspheres was prolonged compared with that of the PGEF-microspheres. MRT in the gastrointestinal tract was also prolonged after administration of the CPD-microspheres compared with that following the administration of the PGEF-microspheres.

Stabilization of a new antiulcer drug (Lansoprazole) in the solid dosage forms

AbstractIn the previous study, we clarified that enteric granules were appropriate dosage forms of lansoprazole. The establishment of these formulations, however, was difficult because some of the excipients needed for these formulations are incompatible with the drug. We examined the effects of adding magnesium carbonate as an alkaline stabilizer and could get stable enteric granules. We also discuss the mechanism of stabilization.