Drug release from laminated polymeric films prepared from aqueous latexes

Laminated films comprised of a drug-containing reservoir layer and a drug-free, rate-controlling membrane were prepared from aqueous latexes and investigated as an alternative drug delivery system to polymeric films cast from organic solvents. The reservoir layer was prepared by casting and drying the latex [copolymer of poly(ethylacrylate-methylmethacrylate) esters - Eudragit NE 30D (NE 30D)] containing the dissolved drugs (chlorpheniramine maleate, propranolol HCl, or salicylic acid). Monolithic solutions (salicylic acid-NE 30D) or dispersions (chlorpheniramine maleate or propranolol HCl-NE 30D) were formed, depending on the solubility of the drug in the polymer matrix. Zero-order drug release was achieved by laminating a second, drug-free latex film onto the reservoir layer. The rate-controlling membrane was either attached to, or cast directly onto the reservoir. The release rate was independent of loading for the monolithic dispersions, but dependent on loading for the monolithic solution. Release rates were enhanced by the addition of a hydrophilic polymer, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, to the rate-controlling membrane. An inverse relationship was observed between the release rate and membrane thickness. The rate-controlling membrane, cast from organic polymer solutions, had a denser structure, resulting in slower drug release when compared with latex-cast laminates.     

Physical and chemical factors influencing the release of drugs from acrylic resin films

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the factors influencing the release of salicylic acid and chlorpheniramine maleate from polymethacrylate amino-ester copolymer films (Eudragits RL PM and RS PM). Differential scanning calorimetry was performed on the films to study the solubility of drug in the polymer and to determine the effect of added drug on the thermal properties of the film. Incorporation of drug into the polymers decreased the glass transition temperature of the polymers. Dissolution of drug from monolithic slabs was followed as a function of temperature, drug concentration in the films, and ionic strength of the release media. In addition, adsorption studies were conducted with each drug:polymer combination to help explain release results and further characterize the drug:polymer interactions that occurred. The rate of drug release increased with increasing temperature. Adsorption of salicylic acid by the polymers was believed to influence the drug release profiles observed for different drug loadings and ionic strengths. Eudragit RL was found to adsorb salicylic acid to a greater extent than the Eudragit RS. Chlorpheniramine maleate was not found to be adsorbed by either polymer.     

Relationship of film properties to drug release from monolithic films containing adjuvants.

The rate of drug release from a polymeric matrix system was influenced by the physical and chemical properties of the monolithic films. The model drugs, salicylic acid and chlorpheniramine maleate, and two poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymers of different permeabilities (Eudragit RL and Eudragit RS), with and without additional adjuvants, were used to form monolithic matrix films for controlled drug release. Adjuvants, including polyethylene glycols (PEG 400 and PEG 8000) and poly(vinylpyrrolidones) (PVP-K15 and PVP-K90), were incorporated into films of Eudragit RL PM and Eudragit RS PM. The moisture permeation constant, glass transition temperature (Tg), tensile strength, and drug release profiles were determined for each acrylic resin slab to correlate the physicochemical and physicomechanical film properties to observed drug release. Faster rates of drug diffusion were observed with the addition of PEG 400 to the films, because of its plasticizing effect and the resultant increased moisture permeability of the matrix. An exception existed with the Eudragit RL PM film containing salicylic acid where drug-polymer interactions inhibited drug diffusion. The small changes in moisture permeability, Tg, and tensile strength observed with incorporation of the PVPs had an insignificant influence on the dissolution results for salicylic acid from Eudragit RS PM films. Increases in the tensile strength and Tg after addition of PVP to the Eudragit RS PM matrix support the observed decreased rate of diffusion for chlorpheniramine maleate. The pores formed by migration of the hydrophilic adjuvants from the films altered the diffusion kinetics of the matrix, compared with that of the nonporous polymer, when only the antihistamine was present.     

Linear drug release from laminated hydroxypropyl cellulose-polyvinyl acetate films.

Release of drug from a single-layer film containing dispersed drug follows a diffusion-controlled matrix model, where the quantity released per unit area is proportional to the square root of time. The kinetics may be made linear with time (zero order) by laminating a second film without drug to the releasing side of the film with dispersed drug. In this manner, the drug layer serves as a reservoir and controls the duration of drug release, while the nondrug layer functions as a rate-controlling membrane. Zero-order drug release was demonstrated in such laminated films using 18-45 percent pentobarbital, methapyrilene, or salicylic acid contained in hydroxypropyl cellulose as the reservoir layer and mixtures of hydroxypropyl cellulose and polyvinyl acetate as the membrane layer. Inverse relationships between the release rate and membrane thickness and between the logarithm of the rate and the percentage of polyvinyl acetate in the membrane layer were observed. Of the three drugs tested, salicylic acid gave the fastest release rates while pentobarbital gave the slowest.     

Characterization of cellulosic hot-melt extruded films containing lidocaine.

Hot-melt extrusion technology was used to produce thin films containing a model drug, lidocaine, and the cellulosic polymers hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). Two film formulations were extruded and compared, one containing only HPC and the other containing HPC:HPMC (80:20). Thermal analysis of the films using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) suggested that the drug existed in the amorphous condition, which was confirmed by wide angle X-ray diffractometry. Sustained release of the drug was observed from both of the polymer matrices. Dissolution profiles suggested that HPMC retarded the drug release from HPC:HPMC (80:20) films. However, the mechanism of drug release from both of the films was predominantly diffusion of the drug through the polymer matrices. Incorporation of HPMC also increased both adhesive strength and work of adhesion as compared to the HPC-only films.     

Microparticles prepared by grinding of polymeric films

Microparticles were prepared by a film grinding method, whereby thin drug-containing ethylcellulose films were cryogenically ground into microparticles. The particle size and shape of the microparticles could be controlled by the thickness of the films and by the milling time. The encapsulation efficiency as well as the in vitro drug release depended on the physical state of the drug in the ethylcellulose matrix (dispersed vs dissolved). Increased drug loadings and decreased particle size and film thickness increased the drug release. Microparticles prepared from cast films were more dense and had a slower drug release compared to microparticles prepared from sprayed films or from films prepared from an aqueous colloidal ethylcellulose dispersion, Aquacoat ECD. Lamination of the drug-containing film with a drug-free polymer layer on both sides resulted in a reduced drug release. Hydrophilic plasticizers acted as pore-formers and accelerated drug release, while lipophilic plasticizers reduced the drug release. The solubility of the drug in the organic polymer solution was one of the main parameters to achieve high encapsulation efficiencies and extended drug release, while dispersed drug was released much faster. The drug release from microparticles prepared by film grinding was faster than from microparticles prepared by the solvent evaporation method. The faster release was attributed to the fractured surface of the ground particles. Grinding of microparticles, which were prepared by the solvent evaporation, also resulted in a faster release.     

Jet milling--a new technique for microparticle preparation

The effect of an aqueous amylopectin subcoating on the acidic resistance and dissolution behaviour of enteric-coated pellets was studied. Freely water-soluble riboflavin sodium phosphate (RSP) was used as a model drug, and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and lactose as fillers in the pellet cores. The pellets were subcoated with 5% aqueous amylopectin solution or with 5% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) solution, and subsequently film-coated with aqueous dispersion of cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP). Drug release of enteric-coated pellets was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Dissolution tests showed that amylopectin subcoating improved the acidic resistance of the enteric-coated pellets in 0.1 N hydrochloric acid (HCl) compared with HPMC subcoating. As the amylopectin subcoating load was increased to 4% and the aqueous CAP coating load to 35%, the coated pellets resisted in 0.1 N HCl solution for approximately 1 h (the amount of drug released was below 10%), and they dissolved in the SIF without enzymes in less than 10 min. Confocal microscopy images and profiles of mean fluorescence intensities of RSP (obtained in the range of the interface of the pellet core and the film and the film coating surface) showed consistent results with dissolution tests. It seems that amylopectin subcoating can prevent the influx of the dissolution medium into the pellet core, and thus decrease the premature dissolution and release of the drug from the enteric-coated pellets in 0.1 N HCl solution. The drug release mechanism appeared to be osmotically driven release, and followed by diffusion through the polymer film.     

A study of the effects of curing and storage conditions on controlled release diphenhydramine HCl pellets coated with Eudragit NE30D

The objective of this study was to investigate the possible impacts of curing and storage conditions on dissolution of controlled release diphenhydramine HCl pellets coated with EUDRAGIT NE30D. The accumulative percentage of dissolved active drug was used as the response in three statistical experimental design studies: 32 full factorial, Box-Behnken and 2(3) designs. By only considering curing temperature and curing time, both factors were found to significantly affect the dissolution rate, but curing temperature had greater impact than curing time. When considering polymer coating level, curing temperature and curing time together, polymer coating level and curing temperature had important effects on dissolution rate, but curing time became insignificant among these three factors. The addition of the water-soluble additives hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and mannitol made coating films less sensitive to curing, and there was little or no difference in their effect in the model studied. Lower levels of a water-insoluble additive (kaolin) had little impact on dissolution; however, when the level of water-insoluble additive increased, the coating film became more sensitive to curing, especially at the lower curing temperature of 30 degrees C.     

Incorporation of surface-modified dry micronized poorly water-soluble drug powders into polymer strip films

Recent work has established polymer strip films as a robust platform for delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs via slurry casting, in particular using stable drug nanosuspensions. Here, a simpler, robust method to directly incorporate dry micronized poorly water-soluble drug, fenofibrate (FNB), is introduced. As a major novelty, simultaneous surface modification using hydrophilic silica along with micronization was done using fluid energy mill (FEM) in order to reduce FNB hydrophobicity and powder agglomeration. It is hypothesized that silica coating promotes easy, uniform dispersion of micronized and coated FNB (MC-FNB) during direct mixing with aqueous hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC-E15LV) and glycerin solutions. Uniform dispersion leads to improved film critical quality attributes (CQAs) such as appearance, drug content uniformity and drug dissolution. The impact of polymer solution viscosity (low and high), mixer type (low versus high shear), and FNB surface modification on film CQAs were also assessed. Films with as-received FNB (AR-FNB) and micronized uncoated FNB (MU-FNB) were prepared as control. When MC-FNB powders were used, films exhibited improved appearance (thickness uniformity, visible lumps/agglomerates), better drug content uniformity (expressed as relative standard deviation), fast and immediate drug release, and enhanced mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation percentage), regardless of the polymer solution viscosity or mixer type. These results compare favorably with those reported using nanosuspensions of FNB, establishing the feasibility of directly incorporating surface modified-micronized poorly water-soluble drug powders in film manufacturing.     

Drug release kinetics from polymeric films containing propranolol hydrochloride for transdermal use

Polymeric films containing propranolol hydrochloride (PPN) were formulated and evaluated with a view to select a suitable formulation for the development of transdermal drug delivery systems. Films containing different ratios of ethyl cellulose (EC), poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), and PPN were prepared by mercury substrate method. In vitro drug release and skin permeation studies were conducted using paddle over disk and modified Franz diffusion cell, respectively. The drug release profiles from the polymeric film indicated that the drug content in the film decreased at an apparent first-order rate, whereas the quantity of drug release was proportional to the square root of time. The release rate of PPN increased linearly with increasing drug concentration and PVP fraction in the film, but was found to be independent of film thickness. The increase in release rate may be due to leaching of hydrophilic fraction of the film former, which resulted in the formation of pores. It was also observed that the release of drug from the films followed the diffusion-controlled model at low drug concentration. A burst effect was observed initially, however, at high drug loading level, which may be due to rapid dissolution of the surface drug followed by the diffusion of the drug through the polymer network in the film. The in vitro skin permeation profiles displayed increased flux values with increase of initial drug concentration in the film, and also with the PVP content. From this study, it is concluded that the films composed of EC/PVP/PPN, 9:1:3, 8:2:2, and 8:2:3, should be selected for the development of transdermal drug delivery systems using a suitable adhesive layer and backing membrane for potential therapeutic applications.     

Organic solvent-free polymeric microspheres prepared from aqueous colloidal polymer dispersions by a w/o-emulsion technique

Polymeric microspheres were prepared from water-insoluble polymers by a novel technique without the use of organic solvents. Aqueous colloidal polymer dispersions (latexes or pseudolatexes) were emulsified into a heated external oil phase to form a w/o emulsion. The colloidal polymer particles fused (coalesced) into homogeneous polymeric microspheres at temperatures above the minimum film formation temperature upon removal of water. The formation of the microspheres was affected by the glass transition temperature of the polymer, the type of oil and surfactant, the heating temperature and time, and the addition of plasticizers. Plasticizers had to be added to colloidal dispersions with high minimum film formation temperatures. The resulting microspheres were spherical with a smooth surface and non-agglomerated. The particle size could be varied between 5 and 250 μm. Water-soluble compounds such as propranolol HC1 could be entrapped with drug loadings up to 40% within the microspheres by dissolving the drug in the aqueous polymer dispersion prior to the emulsification step. The drug release was sustained over a 6-h period with microspheres prepared with the acrylic pseudolatex, Eudragit RS 30D.     

Development of a simple method for the preparation of a silica gel based controlled delivery system with a high drug content.

Silica gel was used as core particles to design a simple preparation for controlled delivery system with a high drug content. Drug loading was carried out by immersing the silica gel in a pre-heated drug solution or suspension. HPLC, SEM, DSC, PXRD analysis and N2 adsorption studies evaluated the drug-loading process. In the next step, the drug-loaded silica gel was coated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and an aqueous dispersion of ethylcellulose (Aquacoat) to control the drug release. The release profile was determined using a dissolution test. The results showed that silica gel could adsorb great quantities of the drug, up to about 450 mg/g, by repetition of the loading process. Evaluation of the drug-loading process indicates that drug deposition in the pores occurs during the loading process and the drug-loading efficacy is strongly related to the drug solubility. On the other hand, the dissolution test showed that the drug release could be controlled by polymer coating the drug-loaded silica gel. An HPMC undercoating effectively suppresses the drug release, as it smoothes the drug-loaded core surface and aids in the formation of a continuous Aquacoat coating film. The floating property was also observed during the dissolution test.     

A Study of the Effects of Curing and Storage Conditions on Controlled Release Diphenhydramine HCl Pellets Coated with Eudragit® NE30D

The objective of this study was to investigate the possible impacts of curing and storage conditions on dissolution of controlled release diphenhydramine HCl pellets coated with EUDRAGIT® NE30D. The accumulative percentage of dissolved active drug was used as the response in three statistical experimental design studies: 3² full factorial, Box–Behnken and 2³ designs. By only considering curing temperature and curing time, both factors were found to significantly affect the dissolution rate, but curing temperature had greater impact than curing time. When considering polymer coating level, curing temperature and curing time together, polymer coating level and curing temperature had important effects on dissolution rate, but curing time became insignificant among these three factors. The addition of the water-soluble additives hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and mannitol made coating films less sensitive to curing, and there was little or no difference in their effect in the model studied. Lower levels of a water-insoluble additive (kaolin) had little impact on dissolution; however, when the level of water-insoluble additive increased, the coating film became more sensitive to curing, especially at the lower curing temperature of 30°C.     

A Novel Mucoadhesive Polymer Film Composed of Carbopol,Poloxamer and Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose

Using the casting method novel mucoadhesive polymer blend film consisting of Carbopol, poloxamer, and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) was prepared and characterized. Triamcinolone acetonide (TAA) was loaded into Carbopol/poloxamer/HPMC polymer blend film. Carbonyl band of Carbopol in Carbopol/poloxamer/HPMC shifted to longer wavenumber than that of Carbopol in Carbopol/poloxamer due to the hydrogen bonding among Carbopol, poloxamer, and HPMC. Tan delta peak assigned to glass transition temperature (Tg) of HPMC shifted to low temperature due to increased flexibility caused by increased poloxamer content in polymer blend films. Swelling ratio of Carbopol/poloxamer/HPMC films was lowest in Carbopoll poloxamer/HPMC at mixing ratio of 35/30/35 (wt/wt/wt). Adhesive force of Carbopol/poloxamer/HPMC films increased with increasing HPMC content in Carbopol/poloxamer/HPMC polymer blend film and increasing hydroxypropyl group content in HPMC due to hydrophobic property of HPMC although bioadhesive force was highest at mixing ratio of 35/30/35 (wt/wt/ wt). Release of TAA from TAA-loaded Carbopol/poloxamer/HPMC polymer blend film in vitro increased with increasing loading content of drug.     

Floating microparticles based on low density foam powder

The aim of this study was to develop a novel multiparticulate gastroretentive drug delivery system and to demonstrate its performance in vitro. Floating microparticles consisting of (i) polypropylene foam powder; (ii) verapamil HCl as model drug; and (iii) Eudragit RS, ethylcellulose (EC) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as polymers were prepared with an O/W solvent evaporation method. The effect of various formulation and processing parameters on the internal and external particle morphology, drug loading, in vitro floating behavior, in vitro drug release kinetics, particle size distribution and physical state of the incorporated drug was studied. The microparticles were irregular in shape and highly porous. The drug encapsulation efficiency was high and almost independent of the theoretical loading. Encapsulation efficiencies close to 100% could be achieved by varying either the ratio 'amount of ingredients: volume of the organic phase' or the relative amount of polymer. In all cases, good in vitro floating behavior was observed. The release rate increased with increasing drug loading and with decreasing polymer amounts. The type of polymer significantly affected the drug release rate, which increased in the following rank order: PMMA相似文献   

Sustained release of acetaminophen from a heterogeneous mixture of two hydrophilic non-ionic cellulose ether polymers

This study examined the release of acetaminophen (APAP) from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) matrices. The effect of pseudoephedrine (PE) as a co-active, HPMC:HPC ratio, polymer loading, pH of the dissolution media, and compression force on APAP release were studied. Granules formulated with APAP or both APAP and PE, and various blends of HPMC and HPC were compressed into tablets at different compression forces. APAP release from the matrix tablets was not considerably influenced by changes in HPMC:HPC ratio or compression force. The rate of drug release was significantly affected by pH of the dissolution media, total polymer loading, and the presence of PE. Drug release from the formulations containing both APAP and PE was slower than those containing only APAP. Drug release from tablets formulated with APAP only showed an initial burst at pH 1.16 or 7.45. Formulations containing both APAP and PE showed slower drug release at pH 1.16 than at pH 7.4. The drug release data showed a good fit to the Power Law Model. The mechanism of drug release is consistent with a complex behavior. The results of the tablet erosion studies indicated that the amount of APAP released was linearly related to the percentage of tablet weight loss. The kinetics of tablet water uptake was consistent with a diffusion and stress relaxation mechanism.     

Release and permeation kinetics of caffeine from bioadhesive transdermal films

The aim of this work was to investigate, in vitro, the kinetics of release and permeation of caffeine, chosen as model drug, from bioadhesive transdermal films. These films are not self-adhesive but become adhesive when applied to wet skin. Permeation experiments were performed from films with different drug loadings using rabbit ear skin as barrier. In order to characterize the release kinetics of caffeine from the film, a polyethylene membrane, impregnated with isopropyl myristate was employed. The data obtained in the present work suggest that caffeine release from transdermal bioadhesive films was controlled either by the permeability characteristics of the skin or by the film itself, depending on drug loading. When drug loading is low (ie, caffeine is dissolved in the polymers constituting the film), the control resides in the skin. When caffeine loading exceeds its solubility in the film, the permeation profile is not linear, but shows a sort of burst effect in the early times of permeation, probably owing to the presence of solid drug and/or to a certain degree of "conserved supersaturation" in the solid phase.     

Biodegradable films developed by electrospray deposition for sustained drug delivery

The objective of present study is to develop biodegradable films with controllable thickness for sustained release applications using a combination of electrospray deposition techniques. The model anticancer drug-paclitaxel is encapsulated inside PLGA films. The morphology observed by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy reveals that the film has a flat surface together with a dense structure. X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy results show that some amount of paclitaxel is found on the surface layer of films. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) analysis suggests that paclitaxel is in an amorphous form in the polymer matrix even for up to 30% drug loading. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) study further proved that paclitaxel is in a solid solution state in polymer films. In vitro release profile indicates that sustained release of paclitaxel from the films is for more than 85 days, without the tri-phasic release profile typically for PLGA films. The phase contrast images clearly suggests a slight decrease in the number of C6 glioma cells as the paclitaxel loading within the polymeric films is increased. The results of MTT assay employed to quantify the cell viability correlates well with the observation from phase contrast microscopy.     

Drug release behavior of polymeric matrix filled in capsule

A single unit sustainable drug release system was developed using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)-based matrices filled in capsule as the drug delivery device. Release behavior of propranolol HCl from these capsules was investigated and least square fitting was performed for the dissolution data with the different mathematical expressions. Effect of diluent, polymer, pH and hydrodynamic force on the drug release from the developed systems was investigated. The utilization of HPMC as a matrix former extended the drug release longer than 8 h. HPMC viscosity grades affected the drug release, that is, increasing the amount of fillers such as lactose and dibasic calcium phosphate enhanced the drug release rate of HPMC matrices. The hydrodynamic force, type and amount of incorporated polymer apparently influenced the drug release. The physiochemical properties of polymers and interaction between HPMC and other polymers were important factors for prolongation of the drug release. The release mechanism from HPMC-based matrices in capsules was the non-Fickian transport in which the sustainable drug release of HPMC capsules could be achieved by the addition of polymeric matrix.     

Buccal administration of mucoadhesive blend films saturated with propranolol loaded nanoparticles

The aims of this study were to prepare and characterize hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)/polycarbophil (PC) mucoadhesive blend films saturated with propranolol hydrochloride (PNL)-loaded nanoparticles to improve permeability of drugs that undergo first-pass metabolism. An ionic cross-linking method and film casting technique was used to prepare nanoparticles and mucoadhesive blend films, respectively. Increasing concentrations of PNL (70, 80, 90 mg/film) in HPMC/PC blend films containing PNL-loaded nanoparticles (PN-films) and HPMC/PC blend films containing PNL (80 mg/film) without nanoparticles (PP-films) were prepared to test swelling, mucoadhesiveness, release, permeation and physicochemical properties. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed a partially smooth surface with a wrinkled occurrence and spherically shaped, well-dispersed nanoparticles on the surface of PN-films containing PNL 80 mg/film (PN-films-80). The size of the nanoparticles on the surface of PN-films-80 was around 100 nm, which was similar to the nanoparticle size observed using light scattering technique. The swelling index (SI) of all PN-films and PP-films increased greatly in the first period time (10–20 min) and reached swelling equilibrium at 20 min and 30 min, respectively. For the PN-films, the concentration of PNL influenced the mucoadhesive properties and tended to be higher when the amount of PNL increased. Immediate release of all blend film formulations was found in early time points (10–30 min). After 120 min, the release of PN-films-70 was lower than the other PN-films. Permeation studies using porcine buccal mucosa showed that inclusion of nanoparticles in the films increased the permeability of PNL compared to PP-films. Therefore, buccal administration of mucoadhesive blend films containing PNL-loaded nanoparticles could be a promising approach for drugs that undergo first-pass metabolism.