Preparation and Characterization of Poloxamer 407 Solid Dispersions as an Alternative Strategy to Improve Benznidazole Bioperformance

Benznidazole (BZL), the first line drug for Chagas disease treatment, presents a low solubility, limiting the possibilities for its formulation. In this work, solid dispersions' (SDs) technology was exploited to increase BZL kinetic solubility and dissolution rate, seeking for an improvement in its bioperformance. A physical mixture (PM) and an SD using Poloxamer 407 as carrier were prepared and characterized. Dissolution tests were performed, and data were analyzed with the lumped model, which allowed to calculate different parameters of pharmaceutical relevance. A bioactivity assay was also carried out to probe the SD anti-trypanocidal activity. Among the most relevant results, the initial dissolution rate of the BZL SD was near 3, 4 and about 400-fold faster than the PM, a commercial formulation (CF) and an extracted BZL, respectivley. The times needed for an 80% of drug dissolution were 3.6 (SD), 46.4 (PM), and 238.7 min (CF); while the dissolution efficiency values at 30 min were 85.2 (SD), 71.2 (PM), and 65.0% (CF). Survival curves suggested that using Poloxamer 407 as carrier did not alter the anti-trypanocidal activity of BZL. These results allow to conclude that SDs can be an effective platform for immediate release of BZL in an oral administration.     

Studies on the In-vitro Percutaneous Penetration of Indomethacin from Gel Systems in Hairless Mice

The influence of co-solvents on the in-vitro percutaneous penetration of indomethacin from gel systems was studied using a simplex lattice experimental design. Gel formulations were prepared by gelling the vehicle mixture of water, either alcohol or isopropanol and either propylene glycol or PEG 400 with 1% w/w Carbomer 940. Hairless mouse skin was employed as the barrier in a Franz-type diffusion cell. The penetration rates at steady state for seven formulations were fitted to a polynomial equation based on this simple lattice method and a three-dimensional plot was constructed. The formulation having the maximal penetration rate was determined to be the vehicle with a solvent ratio of water: alcohol: propylene glycol equal to 15:33:52, and which possessed a solubility parameter of 15 and a drug solubility of around 10 mg mL^?1. When the solubility parameter of the vehicle was > 15, the drug solubility increased. However, the penetration rate decreased with an increasing solubility parameter. For those vehicles with a solubility parameter < 15, both the drug solubility and the penetration rate decreased with a decrease in the solubility parameter. There was shown to be an approximately 20-fold increase in the relative enhancement factor when using both alcohol and isopropanol, but only a threefold increase for both propylene glycol and PEG 400, when compared with water.     

Physicochemical properties of a nonpeptide cyclic urea HIV protease inhibitor (DMP 323)

DMP 323 ([4R-(4α, 5α, 6β, 7β)]-hexahydro-5,6-bis(hydroxy)-1,3-bis ([(4-hydroxymethyl)phenyl]methyl)-4,7-bis(phenylmethyl)-2H-1,3-diazepin-2-one), a potent inhibitor of HIV protease and HIV replication, is a white irregular-shaped nonhygroscopic crystalline material. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed a single melt peak at 195.7°C. DMP 323 was practically insoluble in water at 10 µg/ml (pH 8.1) at 25°C. The aqueous solubility was unaffected by changes in pH. The logarithm of the solubility of DMP 323 is a linear function of the percentage of water miscible cosolvents. The highest solubility values of DMP 323 were 272 mg/ml in 95% (v/v) ethanol in water, 160 mg/ml in propylene glycol, 144 mg/ml in polyethylene glycol 400, 65.5 mg/ml in 70% (w/w) polyethylene glycol 1450 in water, 64.2 mg/ml in polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, and 1.61 mg/ml in glycerin. DMP 323 was stable as a function of pH with no loss observed at pH 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12.7 in aqueous buffers containing 5% (v/v) methanol after eight weeks at 40°C. In polyethylene glycol 400 solutions, the degradation of DMP 323 was approximated with apparent first order kinetics at elevated temperatures. Butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole were effective antioxidants in reducing the degradation in polyethylene glycol 400 solutions while citric acid afforded no protection from the degradation. Argon flushing was effective at reducing the oxidative degradation in polyethylene glycol 400 solutions stored at room temperature. Consistent with the oxidative degradation, DMP 323 degraded to the mono- and dibenzaldehyde, the monobenzoic acid, and the monobenzaldehyde monobenzoic acid derivatives.     

Isotropic systems of medium-chain mono- and diglycerides for solubilization of lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs

The aim of this study was to investigate isotropic mono- and diglyceride-based (MCMDG) systems, which are potential vehicles for injectable products containing both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. For two-component systems, MCMDG was mixed with various masses of water. For three-component systems, the samples were prepared by mixing propylene glycol or glycerol formal or short-chain alcohols with MCMDG prior to the addition of water. The isotropic region was examined by visual inspection and confirmed using polarized light microscopy. Viscosities of formulations were measured. Solubilities of levamisole phosphate (hydrophilic) and abamectin (lipophilic) were determined in the isotropic formulations using high-performance liquid chromatography assay. The isotropic region in the two-component systems had a water content of up to 18% at 25 degrees C. Solvents such as propylene glycol (PG), glycerol formal (FG), and ethyl alcohol increased the isotropic region. The area of isotropic region in these three-component systems increased with increasing temperature. The area of the isotropic region became larger with decreasing dielectric constant and solubility parameter of the series of short-chain alcohols, except n-butyl alcohol, at 25 degrees C. The systems exhibited Newtonian behavior. The solubility of both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs was high in formulations at 25 degrees C. It was concluded that more water was solubilized in MCMDG/short-chain alcohols/water systems, and the isotropic region in the short-chain alcohol systems enlarged compared with MCMDG/PG/water or MCMDG/GF/water systems, except the n-butyl alcohol system. Hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs solubilize in the systems. The isotropic formulations containing MCMDG may represent an alternative to more traditional formulations for injectable formulations containing both lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs.     

Development of an ethyl laurate-based microemulsion for rapid-onset intranasal delivery of diazepam

An ethyl laurate-based microemulsion system with Tween 80 as surfactant, propylene glycol and ethanol as cosolvents was developed for intranasal delivery of diazepam. Phase behavior and solubilization capacity of the microemulsion system were characterized and in vivo nasal absorption of diazepam from microemulsion formulations was investigated in rabbits. A single isotropic region, which is considered as a bicontinuous microemulsion, was found in the pseudo-ternary phase diagrams developed at various Tween 80: propylene glycol: ethanol ratios. With the increase of Tween 80 concentration, the microemulsion region area, microemulsion viscosity, and the amount of H(2)O and ethyl laurate solubilized into the microemulsion system increased; however, the increase of ethanol percentage produced opposite effects. Diazepam, a practically water-insoluble drug, displayed a high solubility of 41 mg/ml in a microemulsion consisting of 15% ethyl laurate, 15% H(2)O, and 70% (w/w) surfactant/cosurfactant (Tween 80:propylene glycol:ethanol at 1:1:1 weight ratio). Nasal absorption of diazepam from this microemulsion was found to be fairly rapid. At 2 mg/kg dose, the maximum drug plasma concentration was arrived within 2-3 min, and the bioavailability (0-2 h) after nasal spray compared with intravenous injection was about 50%. These results suggest that this ethyl laurate-based microemulsion may be a useful approach for the rapid-onset delivery of diazepam during the emergency treatment of status epilepticus.     

Physicochemical properties of valsartan and the effect of ethyl alcohol, propylene glycol and pH on its solubility

The aqueous solubility and partition coefficient of valsartan were determined at room temperature. The effect of ethyl alcohol, propylene glycol and pH on its solubility was also investigated. It was found that both solvents increased the solubility of the drug in water. The solubilizing power of ethyl alcohol was found to be higher than that of propylene glycol. Valsartan solubility was also observed to increase at high pH values and its lipophilicity wasdemonstrated by the high positive value of the logarithm of partition coefficient.     

Drug permeability across a phospholipid vesicle-based barrier: 4. The effect of tensides, co-solvents and pH changes on barrier integrity and on drug permeability

In this study the integrity of the recently developed phospholipid vesicle-based permeability barrier in the presence of a variety of co-solvents and tensides has been investigated. Also included are studies of the influence of these additives on drug permeation and the effect of pH changes on the permeability of ionogenic drug compounds. Permeability experiments using the hydrophilic model compound calcein together with polysorbate 80 (Tween 80), polyoxyl 35 castor oil (Cremophor EL), macrogol lauryl ether (Brij 35), sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20), polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400), ethanol and dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) were performed to determine whether the barriers were affected by the presence of these additives in the donor compartment. It was found that the integrity of the phospholipid vesicle-based barriers did not seem to be influenced by Span 20 up to a concentration of 5mg/ml, PEG 400 up to a concentration of 40mg/ml and ethanol and DMSO up to a concentration of 20mg/ml, respectively. Brij 35, Tween 80 and Cremophor EL were however found to be incompatible with the model at all concentrations as the barriers became leaky. Appearance of phospholipid in the donor chamber in presence of these three tensides indicated that the loss of integrity was due to partial dissolution of the phospholipid vesicles from the barrier. The permeability of testosterone was not significantly improved by the presence of the different co-solvents, except for 40 mg/ml PEG 400 and 20 mg/ml DMSO where the permeability was increased. In the pH study the permeability of metoprolol and naproxen was shown to decrease with increasing degree of ionisation according to the pH partition hypothesis. This renders the permeability model suitable for using pH-shift as a factor to influence solubility of drugs as well as to predict segmental absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.     

Solubilization and preformulation studies on PG-300995 (an anti-HIV drug)

This study investigates the solubilization of a potential anti-human immunodeficiency virus agent [PG-300995 or 2-(2-thiophenyl)-4-azabenzoimidazole] for oral administration. The intrinsic solubility of PG-300995 is 51 microg/mL. Multiple approaches including combinations of pH control and cosolvency, micellization, or complexation were used to improve the solubility of PG-300995. The combined techniques increased the solubility of both the unionized and ionized species. The solubility of the drug increased from 20 to 200 times depending on the pH and concentration of solubilization agents. The following formulations which contain the desired doses of 5 and 10 mg/mL were developed for oral administration. Formulation A: 10 mg/mL PG-300995 in 20% sulfobutyl ether-beta-cyclodextrin at pH 2; formulations B: 5 mg/mL PG-300995 in 10% sulfobutyl ether-beta-cyclodextrin at pH 2; formulation C: 5 mg/mL PG-300995 in 10% ethanol + 40% propylene glycol at pH 2. No precipitation was observed after series dilution of these three formulations with water or pH 2 buffers. These formulations are stable for at least 6 months after storing at room temperature and 37 degrees C.     

Bioavailability enhancement of a poorly water-soluble drug by solid dispersion in polyethylene glycol-polysorbate 80 mixture

Oral bioavailability of a poorly water-soluble drug was greatly enhanced by using its solid dispersion in a surface-active carrier. The weakly basic drug (pK(a) approximately 5.5) had the highest solubility of 0.1mg/ml at pH 1.5, < 1 microg/ml aqueous solubility between pH 3.5 and 5.5 at 24+/-1 degrees C, and no detectable solubility (< 0.02 microg/ml) at pH greater than 5.5. Two solid dispersion formulations of the drug, one in Gelucire 44/14 and another one in a mixture of polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350) with polysorbate 80, were prepared by dissolving the drug in the molten carrier (65 degrees C) and filling the melt in hard gelatin capsules. From the two solid dispersion formulations, the PEG 3350-polysorbate 80 was selected for further development. The oral bioavailability of this formulation in dogs was compared with that of a capsule containing micronized drug blended with lactose and microcrystalline cellulose and a liquid solution in a mixture of PEG 400, polysorbate 80 and water. For intravenous administration, a solution in a mixture of propylene glycol, polysorbate 80 and water was used. Absolute oral bioavailability values from the capsule containing micronized drug, the capsule containing solid dispersion and the oral liquid were 1.7+/-1.0%, 35.8+/-5.2% and 59.6+/-21.4%, respectively. Thus, the solid dispersion provided a 21-fold increase in bioavailability of the drug as compared to the capsule containing micronized drug. A capsule formulation containing 25 mg of drug with a total fill weight of 600 mg was subsequently selected for further development. The selected solid dispersion formulation was physically and chemically stable under accelerated storage conditions for at least 6 months. It is hypothesized that polysorbate 80 ensures complete release of drug in a metastable finely dispersed state having a large surface area, which facilitates further solubilization by bile acids in the GI tract and the absorption into the enterocytes. Thus, the bioavailability of this poorly water-soluble drug was greatly enhanced by formulation as a solid dispersion in a surface-active carrier.     

Identification of suitable formulations for high dose oral studies in rats using in vitro solubility measurements, the maximum absorbable dose model, and historical data sets

The ability to define compound solubility targets that are predictive of good oral absorption at high dose preclinical studies (≥ 100 mg compound/kg animal) is of use in drug discovery and development. Two different approaches to identify these targets in preclinical formulations are evaluated herein. The first approach is the use of solubility values from in vitro formulation dilutions using biorelevant parameters for rats. These dilution/solubility results are applied to the maximum absorbable dose (MAD) model to predict compound exposure (AUC) from oral doses and allow the fraction of dose absorbed (F(abs)) calculation. The results from 26 such in vitro evaluations are compared to in vivo studies and discussed. The second approach is the analysis of in vivo AUC proportionality between 10 and 100 mg/kg doses for 28 compounds where only the compound solubility in neat formulation is known. Both assessments suggest similar threshold targets to remove solubility as an absorption limitation for any given compound. Specifically, compound solubility should be >2 mg/mL in aqueous surfactants and >15 mg/mL in cosolvent (PEG400) or pH-adjusted aqueous formulations. The results are a starting place for formulation rule-of-thumb solubility targets applied in discovery and development settings.     

Enhanced oral bioavailability of paclitaxel by D-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 400 succinate in mice

Paclitaxel is widely used to treat several types of solid tumors. The commercially available paclitaxel formulation contains Cremophor/ethanol as solubilizers. This study evaluated the effects of D-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 400 succinate (TPGS 400) on the oral absorption of paclitaxel in mice. Mice were given an intravenous (18mg/kg) or oral (100mg/kg) dose of paclitaxel solubilized in Cremophor/ethanol or in TPGS 400/ethanol formulations. Paclitaxel plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. The maximal plasma concentrations of paclitaxel after an oral dose were 1.77+/-0.17 and 3.39+/-0.49microg/ml for Cremophor/ethanol and TPGS 400/ethanol formulations, respectively, with a similar time at 40-47min to reach the maximal plasma concentrations. The oral bioavailability of paclitaxel in TPGS 400/ethanol (7.8%) was 3-fold higher than that in Cremophor/ethanol (2.5%). On the other hand, the plasma pharmacokinetic profiles of intravenous paclitaxel demonstrated a superimposition for the two formulations. Furthermore, TPGS 400 concentration-dependently increased the intracellular retention of Rhodamine 123 in Caco-2 cells and enhanced paclitaxel permeability in monolayer Caco-2 cultures. TPGS 400 at concentrations up to 1mM did not inhibit testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase, a cytochrome P450 isozyme 3A in liver microsomes metabolizing paclitaxel. Our results indicated that TPGS 400 enhances the oral bioavailability of paclitaxel in mice and the enhancement may result from an increase in intestinal absorption of paclitaxel.     

Evaluation of new propofol aqueous solutions for intravenous anesthesia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of using three new aqueous formulations of propofol for intravenous (i.v.) anesthesia. The first formulation can be prepared by using hydroxypropyl-gamma-cyclodextrin (HP-gamma-CD) as a solubilizer. Phase-solubility analysis showed a linear increase in the solubility of propofol to a maximum of 16.6 mg/ml in 30% (w/v) HP-gamma-CD. Moreover, phase-solubility studies demonstrated that 18% (w/v) HP-beta-CD or SBE-beta-CD and 24% HP-gamma-CD solutions, respectively, are required to dissolve 10mg of propofol in 1 ml of the vehicle; the corresponding solutions, however, are slightly hypertonic. Autoclaving the 10 mg/ml CD-based formulations for 15 min at 121 degrees C caused a change in pH which was more evident for the HP-beta-CD-based formulation while, in any case, no detectable fall in propofol concentration was observed. The second formulation herein evaluated is a co-solvent mixture (i.e., propylene glycol:water (1:1), v/v) which is able to dissolve 10 mg/ml of the anesthetic agent. However, although it is simple to prepare, the stability of this formulation is limited. The third aqueous formulation can be prepared by using the prolinate ester of propofol and its water-soluble derivative dissolved in water at equimolar concentration. The efficacy of all these formulations as i.v. anesthetic agents was assessed using a pharmacodynamic measure (onset and duration of loss of the righting reflex, LORR), and compared with that of the commercial propofol formulation (Diprivan, 10 mg/ml) in rats. It was found that minimizing the amount of cyclodextrin in all CD-based formulations, anesthetic effects comparable to those of propofol in Diprivan were still observed. Moreover, the prolinate ester constituted an effective i.v. anesthetic formulation with the same duration of action but with a longer induction time than Diprivan.     

Influence of preparation method on itraconazole oral solutions using cyclodextrins as complexing agents

In the literature, solubility values of itraconazole complexed with 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) were found which were still much too low to obtain the target concentration of 1 g itraconazole/100 ml, the concentration of the marketed itraconazole formulation Sporanox (Janssen Pharmaceutica). Therefore, we compared two preparation methods: the classical and the dissolving method to investigate if the method of preparation can have an influence on the solubility of itraconazole complexed with cyclodextrin (CD). With the classical method, the active compound and the CDs are jointly dissolved with a co-solvent, propylene glycol, in water. With the dissolving method, the active compound is first dissolved separately in a solvent in which it dissolves well, while the CDs are dissolved in water, before mixing. Three different CDs were used and compared for their complexing capacity with itraconazole. The complex formation of itraconazole with HP-beta-CD, sulfobutylether-7-beta-cyclodextrin (SBE-7-beta-CD) and maltosyl-beta-cyclodextrin (malt-beta-CD) was investigated at pH 2, in the presence of 10% propylene glycol for an oral solution. These three CDs were chosen as they can also serve in formulations for parenteral use. The method of preparation had an important influence on the complex formation. With the dissolving method, a much higher solubility of itraconazole was obtained using the same CD concentration than with the classical method. Inclusion capacity obtained with the dissolving method was comparable for HP-beta-CD and SBE-7-beta-CD: 1 g itraconazole/100 ml of 25% HP-beta-CD or of 30% SBE-7-beta-CD. In 100 ml of 40% malt-beta-CD only about 500 mg of itraconazole could be dissolved. With the classical method only around 160 mg itraconazole could be dissolved with 100 ml 40 % HP-beta-CD or SBE-7-beta-CD. Due to the fast preparation, once the CD amount is known by pretests, the dissolving method shows also an advantage for industrial production.     

Improvement of the bioavailability of colchicine in rats by co-administration of D-alpha-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate and a polyethoxylated derivative of 12-hydroxy-stearic acid

Two surface-active formulation ingredients, a water-soluble derivative of vitamin E (D-alpha-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate, vitamin E-TPGS) as well as a polyethoxylated derivative of 12-hydroxy-stearic acid (Solutol HS 15) were investigated in rats for their potential to increase the oral bioavailability of the p-glycoprotein (p-gp) and cytochrome P450 substrate colchicine. D-alpha-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate and the polyethoxylated derivative of 12-hydroxy-stearic acid will be referred to as "surfactant 1" and "surfactant 2" in the following. Colchicine was administered to the animals at a dose level of 5 mg/kg in each 10% surfactant containing formulation. A solution of colchicine in isotonic saline was selected as a reference formulation. It was found that the administration of colchicine in the surfactant containing formulations resulted in significantly higher systemic exposures as compared to the aqueous reference vehicle (2-fold increase in AUC in the presence of surfactant 1 and 4-fold increase in AUC in the presence of surfactant 2). The aqueous solubility of colchicine was about 16.7 mg/ml, and the increase in solubility in the presence of 1% surfactant 1 or surfactant 2 to about 20.5 and 18.5 mg/ml was not considered to significantly affect the oral bioavailability. In summary, it was demonstrated that both surfactants are suitable formulation ingredients to improve the systemic exposure of colchicine in the rat. Due to the high aqueous solubility of colchicine the most likely reasons for these findings are inhibition of p-gp and/or metabolism as well as permeability enhancement by interactions of the surfactants with the intestinal membrane.     

Development of novel formulations for Chagas' disease: Optimization of benznidazole chitosan microparticles based on artificial neural networks

Benznidazole (BZL) is one of the two therapeutic agents used for the treatment of Chagas' disease. However, the use of BZL in most pharmaceutical preparations and research experiments is still limited due to its low water solubility (0.4mg/mL). To overcome the dissolution rate-limiting step in oral absorption, chitosan microparticles prepared by the coacervation method were chosen, owing to non-toxicity of the polymer and mild conditions of the method. The influence of process parameters such as encapsulation efficiency, size, yield, and dissolution rate was optimized by using artificial neural networks (ANNs). The optimal conditions were found to be 1.5% (w/v) for the polymer concentration, 6.0% (w/v) for the coacervation agent concentration, 1400.0rpm for the stirring rate, and 5.0mL/min for the spraying rate. Confirmation experiments showed good agreement between predicted and experimental values of the optimized properties. These results indicate that ANNs is a valuable tool for the development of optimized BZL chitosan microparticles. To our knowledge it is the first report based on the development of optimized BZL microparticles.     

Effect of some enhancers on the permeation of haloperidol through rat skin in vitro

The objective of this work is to enhance the permeation of haloperidol through the rat skin in vitro by using various enhancers at a concentration of 1 mg/ml in the saturated drug solution and analysing the dose-dependent diffusion profile for the enhancers which significantly increased permeation at this concentration compared with the control. Enhancers belonging to various chemical classes like the vitamins (ascorbic acid), surfactants (cetrimide, polysorbate 20), sulfoxides (dimethyl sulfoxide), glycols (polyethylene glycol 400, propylene glycol) and amides (urea) were used. Amber glass Franz-type diffusion cells were used for the permeation studies and haloperidol was made soluble in aqueous solution with the aid of lactic acid. Ascorbic acid and cetrimide increased flux and permeability coefficient significantly. From the dose-dependent permeation studies, it was concluded that ascorbic acid enhanced the permeation by increasing the solubility of the drug in the vehicle thus providing a high concentration gradient across the skin, whereas cetrimide enhanced the permeation by increasing the thermodynamic activity which may be due to solubilization of skin lipids by micelles. Polysorbate 20 decreased the enhancer index by decreasing the thermodynamic activity. None of the enhancers changed the lag time except for urea which decreased the lag time probably by its binding with keratin. Dimethyl sulfoxide, polyethylene glycol 400 and propylene glycol did not have a significant effect on haloperidol permeation compared with control.     

Unexpected Performance of Physical Mixtures over Solid Dispersions on the Dissolution Behavior of Benznidazole from Tablets

This work investigated the feasibility of developing benznidazole (BZL) tablets, allowing fast, reproducible, and complete drug dissolution, by compressing BZL-Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) 6000 physical mixtures (PMs) and solid dispersions (SDs). SDs were prepared by the solvent evaporation method at different drug:polymer ratios (w/w). BZL-PEG 6000 formulations were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and dissolution studies. The preparation of SD-based BZL tablets by the wet granulation method was carried out and the influence of pregelatinized starch (PS) and starch (S) on the disintegration time and drug dissolution rate was analyzed. SDs showed a significant improvement in the release profile of BZL as compared with the pure drug. As demonstrated by XRD, the crystalline character of BZL remained almost unaltered in both PMs and SDs. BZL release from the PEG 6000 tablets increased by the presence of PS instead S. Unexpectedly, the BZL release from tablets containing PMs was almost equal as compared with the BZL release from tablets containing SDs. In conclusion, the results suggest that PEG 6000 and PS are suitable additives for the development of BZL tablets with enhanced dissolution behavior through the preparation of ordinary PMs, instead the laborious SDs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 102:1016–1023, 2013     

Effects of polysorbate 80 on the in‐vitro precipitation and oral bioavailability of halofantrine from polyethylene glycol 400 formulations in rats

Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the effects of formulations of polysorbate 80 (PS 80) and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) on the precipitation and oral bioavailability of the hydrophobic drug halofantrine. Methods The in‐vitro dilution profile of the formulations was evaluated in phosphate buffer and in simulated intestinal fluids using a standard dissolution apparatus. The pharmacokinetic profile of the formulations was investigated in fasted rats at two dose levels, 5 and 17.5 mg/kg, with blood sampling by vein puncture in the tail. Key findings The solubility of halofantrine was found to be highest in PS 80, and in co‐mixtures there was a correlation with the content of PS 80. The in‐vitro dilution profile revealed precipitation of halofantrine when dissolved in pure PEG 400, although the precipitation was smaller in the simulated intestinal fluid. Addition of 25% PS 80 to the PEG 400 significantly decreased precipitation. The animals dosed with the PEG 400 formulation had significant lower bioavailability than the PS 80–PEG 400 co‐mixtures, possibly due to halofantrine precipitation in the gastrointestinal tract. Conclusions Addition of PS80 to the formulation increased the bioavailability of halofantrine and the more compound, the more PS80 was needed to prevent precipitation.     

Novel formulations of a liver protection drug glycyrrhizin

In Japan, glycyrrhizin injections have been used as a therapeutic drug for allergy inflammation since 1948 and for chronic hepatitis since 1979. A 20 ml injection of glycyrrhizin contains 53 mg of monoammonium glycyrrhizinate (40 mg as glycyrrhizin acid), 400 mg of glycine, and 20 mg of L-cysteine. Patients receiving glycyrrhizin injections two or three times per week are forced to accept a decline in quality of life. Because administering glycyrrhizin by injection has some disadvantages, many researchers have systematically searched for novel glycyrrhizin formulations that can be administered through oral, rectal, intranasal, and subcutaneous routes. There are two problems, however, in developing new formulations: (1) glycyrrhizin has low membrane permeability and is thus poorly absorbed, and (2) highly concentrated glycyrrhizin readily forms gels in aqueous solutions. Here, we describe the utility of glycyrrhizin formulations prepared in safe solubility agents and absorption-enhancing agents, as assessed in animal experiments. We also discuss pharmaceutical issues in developing various glycyrrhizin formulations. In the near future, convenient pharmaceutical preparations of glycyrrhizin will be developed for chronic hepatitis patients who require glycyrrhizin therapy.     

Stabilization of solid dispersions of nimodipine and polyethylene glycol 2000.

Previous investigations revealed that solid dispersions consisting of 20% (m/m) nimodipine and 80% (m/m) polyethylene glycol 2000 prepared by the melting method, represent supersaturated solid solutions of nimodipine recrystallizing upon storage at +25 degrees C. The objective of this study was the improvement of the storage stability by preventing recrystallization. The first approach in order to prevent recrystallization was the development of thermodynamically stable solid solutions by using solvents aiming to enhance the solubility of nimodipine in the carrier material. As potential solubility enhancing additives, polyethylene glycol 300, poly(ethylene/propylene glycol) copolymer, polypropylene glycol 1020, propylene glycol, glycerol and ethyl acetate were evaluated. The second approach enhancing storage stability was the addition of recrystallization inhibitors to supersaturated solid solutions, thereby delaying the transformation of the metastable supersaturated system to the thermodynamically stable state. Macrogol cetostearyl ether, macrogol glycerol monostearate, polysorbate 60, cetostearyl alcohol, glycerol monostearate and sodium lauryl sulphate as well as hydroxypropylcellulose, butylmethacrylat-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)methacrylat-methylmethacrylat-copolymer, polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohol and povidone K17 were included in the study. It could be shown that povidone K17 effectively prevents recrystallization in solid solutions containing 20% (m/m) of nimodipine during storage at +25 degrees C over silica gel thereby ensuring a substantial increase in the dissolution rate and degree of supersaturation in water. On the contrary, stabilization by solubility enhancement was only successful at drug loadings not exceeding 1% (m/m) using polyethylene glycol 300 as solubility enhancing additive.