Starch-based controlled release matrix tablets: Impact of the type of starch

Exploring starch-based excipients in pharmaceutical formulations: Versatile applications and future perspectives

Starch, a naturally abundant and biocompatible polysaccharide, serves as a key excipient in pharmaceutical formulations, enhancing drug stability, efficacy, and manufacturability. This review explores the properties, modifications, and diverse applications of starch-based excipients. Native starches from corn, potato, rice, and wheat are commonly used as disintegrants, binders, and fillers. Physical (e.g., pre-gelatinization), chemical (e.g., cross-linking, acetylation), and enzymatic modifications improve their functionality, such as enhanced stability and colon-specific drug delivery. Starch excels as a binder, improving tablet cohesion and strength, and as a disintegrant, promoting rapid drug release. It also supports controlled and sustained-release systems and advanced drug delivery methods, like nanoparticles and microparticles. Compared to other natural and synthetic excipients, starch offers advantages in biodegradability, non-toxicity, and cost-effectiveness, despite challenges like stability and batch variability. Innovations such as starch nanocrystals show promise in boosting drug solubility and bioavailability. Looking ahead, starch-based excipients hold potential for sustainable pharmaceutical development, personalized medicine, and 3D printing.

Starch-based bio-membrane for water purification, biomedical waste, and environmental remediation

This review article explores the utilization of starch-based materials as smart materials for the removal of dyes and heavy metals from wastewater, highlighting their cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. It addresses the critical need for clean water, emphasizing the contamination caused by industrial activities, such as printing, textile, cosmetic, and leather tanning industries. Starch and its derivatives demonstrate significant potential in water purification technology, effectively removing toxicants through hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and complexation. The review also discusses the application of starch-based materials in the biomedical field, particularly as drug carriers. Starch-based microspheres, hydrogels, nano-spheres, and nano-composites exhibit sustained drug-release properties and are effective in transporting various drugs, including DOX, quercetin, 5-Fluorouracil, glycyrrhizic acid, paclitaxel, tetracycline hydrochloride, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and moxifloxacin. These materials show good antimicrobial activity against a range of pathogens, including C. albicans, E. coli, S. aureus, C. neoformance, B. subtilis, A. niger, A. fumigatus, and A. terreus. While highlighting the significant achievements of starch-based materials, the review also discusses current limitations and areas for future development. Key weaknesses include the need for enhanced adsorption capacities and the challenge of scaling up production for industrial applications. The review concludes by identifying development directions, such as improving functionalization techniques and exploring new applications in water purification and drug delivery systems. This article aims to assist researchers in advancing the field of starch-based materials for environmental and biomedical applications.

In Vitro/In Vivo Correlation of Two Extended-Release Cilostazol Formulations

This study aims to evaluate and determine the correlation between in vitro release and in vivo pharmacokinetics of two extended-release dosage forms of Cilostazol. In vitro release profiles for two dosage forms, tablet and capsule, were analyzed under physiologically mimicked medium conditions using the paddle and basket USP release apparatus. A single-dose, two-period crossover study design in beagle dogs was applied for the pharmacokinetic study. The fed and fast effects were considered for evaluation. Pseudo gastric release medium transfer setup study from pH 1.2 to pH 6.8 (+0.5% SLS) and pH 1.2 to pH 6.8 (+1.0% SLS) demonstrated that Pletaal® SR 200 mg capsules have higher drug release rates than Cilostan® CR 200 mg tablets. Similarly, in vivo study showed Cilostazol concentration in plasma and AUC was lower under the fast state than the fed state. The ratio of least squared geometric mean values, Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-inf of Cilostazol were 2.53-fold, 2.89-fold, and 2.87-fold higher for Pletaal® SR 200 mg capsules compared with Cilostan® CR 200 mg tablets, respectively. Correlation of in vitro/in vivo data indicated that Pletal® SR 200 mg capsules have better release and pharmacodynamic effect than Cilostan® CR 200 mg tablets.

Biopolymer Drug Delivery Systems for Oromucosal Application: Recent Trends in Pharmaceutical R&D

Oromucosal drug delivery, both local and transmucosal (buccal), is an effective alternative to traditional oral and parenteral dosage forms because it increases drug bioavailability and reduces systemic drug toxicity. The oral mucosa has a good blood supply, which ensures that drug molecules enter the systemic circulation directly, avoiding drug metabolism during the first passage through the liver. At the same time, the mucosa has a number of barriers, including mucus, epithelium, enzymes, and immunocompetent cells, that are designed to prevent the entry of foreign substances into the body, which also complicates the absorption of drugs. The development of oromucosal drug delivery systems based on mucoadhesive biopolymers and their derivatives (especially thiolated and catecholated derivatives) is a promising strategy for the pharmaceutical development of safe and effective dosage forms. Solid, semi-solid and liquid pharmaceutical formulations based on biopolymers have several advantageous properties, such as prolonged residence time on the mucosa due to high mucoadhesion, unidirectional and modified drug release capabilities, and enhanced drug permeability. Biopolymers are non-toxic, biocompatible, biodegradable and may possess intrinsic bioactivity. A rational approach to the design of oromucosal delivery systems requires an understanding of both the anatomy/physiology of the oral mucosa and the physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of the drug molecule/biopolymer, as presented in this review. This review summarizes the advances in the pharmaceutical development of mucoadhesive oromucosal dosage forms (e.g., patches, buccal tablets, and hydrogel systems), including nanotechnology-based biopolymer nanoparticle delivery systems (e.g., solid lipid particles, liposomes, biopolymer polyelectrolyte particles, hybrid nanoparticles, etc.).

General aspects of powder rheology applied to pharmaceutical formulations

Powder flowability is crucial in the pharmaceutical industry, strongly affecting solid dosage processing. Classical experimental techniques offer straightforward results for the rapid screening of formulations during development. However, they fail to describe powder properties under consolidation. Complex techniques, such as shear cell, accurately assess fundamental properties of particulate samples under realistic conditions, enabling prediction of their flow. Ideally, a combination of experimental methods should be used to comprehensively assess powder flowability, ensuring consistent product performance. Moreover, researchers and analytical scientists must have a solid understanding of powder rheology to effectively interpret acquired data. In this review, common techniques, experimental protocols, and typical results observed in a pharmaceutical context are described.

Comparative Study of Selected Excipients' Influence on Carvedilol Release from Hypromellose Matrix Tablets

Solid dosage forms based on hypromellose (HPMC) with prolonged/extended drug release are very important from the research and industrial viewpoint. In the present research, the influence of selected excipients on carvedilol release performance from HPMC-based matrix tablets was studied. A comprehensive group of selected excipients was used within the same experimental setup, including different grades of excipients. Compression mixtures were directly compressed using constant compression speed and main compression force. LOESS modelling was used for a detailed comparison of carvedilol release profiles via estimating burst release, lag time, and times at which a certain % of carvedilol was released from the tablets. The overall similarity between obtained carvedilol release profiles was estimated using the bootstrapped similarity factor (f₂). In the group of water-soluble carvedilol release modifying excipients, which produced relatively fast carvedilol release profiles, POLYOXᵀᴹ WSR N-80 and Polyglykol^® 8000 P demonstrated the best carvedilol release control, and in the group of water-insoluble carvedilol release modifying excipients, which produced relatively slow carvedilol release profiles, AVICEL^® PH-102 and AVICEL^® PH-200 performed best.

Starches in the encapsulation of plant active ingredients: state of the art and research trends

As a natural polymer, starches and their derivatives have received widespread attention in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, particularly for their use as a coating material. In this sense, as an encapsulating agent, starches stand out, considering the number of compounds that they can trap. Additionally, they provide a nutritional contribution and may improve acceptance by patients. As such, this type of material may serve as an alternative to overcome gaps such as loss of activity of the active principles, low assimilation, or deterioration under environmental and physiological conditions. In this paper, we aim to present the state of the art and research trends on the use of starch as a wall material for the encapsulation of active principles of plant origin. It was found that the most-encapsulated active principles are essential oils and polyphenols; native or modified starches are typically used, either as the sole wall material or in combination with other polymers; and the most widely used methodology is spray drying. The reviewed studies indicate the potential of starches for their use in active ingredient encapsulation processes, improving their viability and expanding their range of applications in different industries, as well as showing a clearly increasing publication trend over the last 10 years.

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Reactive Extrusion-Assisted Process to Obtain Starch Hydrogels through Reaction with Organic Acids

A totally green process based on reactive extrusion was used for the production of cassava starch hydrogels through reaction with two organic crosslinking agents, citric (CA) and tartaric (TA) acids. CA and TA were used at different concentrations (0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0%). Degree of substitution (DS) of hydrogels ranged from 0.023 to 0.365. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results showed a new band appearing at 1730 cm−1 associated with ester carbonyl groups. X-ray diffraction indicated that reactive extrusion resulted in the disappearance of diffraction peaks of native starch and samples with lower crystallinity indices ranging from 37% (native starch) to 8–11% in starch hydrogels. Morphology analysis showed that the original granular structure of starch was lost and replaced by a rougher and irregular structure. Water holding capacity values of starch hydrogels obtained by reactive extrusion were superior to those of native starch and the control sample (extruded without the crosslinking agents). Hydrogels obtained with the highest CA or TA concentration (20.0%) resulted in the higher DS and swelling capacities, resulting in samples with 870 and 810% of water retention, respectively. Reactive extrusion was effective in obtaining starch hydrogels by reaction with organic acids.

Recent Progress on Modified Gum Katira Polysaccharides and Their Various Potential Applications

Gum katira polysaccharide is biocompatible and non-toxic, and has antioxidant, anti-microbial, and immunomodulatory properties. It is a natural polysaccharide and exudate derived from the stem bark of Cochlospermum reliogosum Linn. Additionally, it has many traditional medicinal uses as a sedative and for the treatment of jaundice, gonorrhea, syphilis, and stomach ailments. This article provides an overview of gum katira, including its extraction, separation, purification, and physiochemical properties and details of its characterization and pharmacognostic features. This paper takes an in-depth look at the synthetic methods used to modify gum katira, such as carboxymethylation and grafting triggered by free radicals. Furthermore, this review provides an overview of its industrial and phytopharmacological applications for drug delivery and heavy metal and dye removal, its biological activities, its use in food, and the potential use of gum katira derivatives and their industrial applications. We believe researchers will find this paper useful for developing techniques to modify gum katira polysaccharides to meet future demands.

Plant Polysaccharides in Engineered Pharmaceutical Gels

Hydrogels are a great ally in the pharmaceutical and biomedical areas. They have a three-dimensional polymeric structure that allows the swelling of aqueous fluids, acting as an absorbent, or encapsulating bioactive agents for controlled drug release. Interestingly, plants are a source of biogels, specifically polysaccharides, composed of sugar monomers. The crosslinking of these polymeric chains forms an architecture similar to the extracellular matrix, enhancing the biocompatibility of such materials. Moreover, the rich hydroxyl monomers promote a hydrophilic behavior for these plant-derived polysaccharide gels, enabling their biodegradability and antimicrobial effects. From an economic point of view, such biogels help the circular economy, as a green material can be obtained with a low cost of production. As regards the bio aspect, it is astonishingly attractive since the raw materials (polysaccharides from plants-cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, inulin, pectin, starch, guar, and cashew gums, etc.) might be produced sustainably. Such properties make viable the applications of these biogels in contact with the human body, especially incorporating drugs for controlled release. In this context, this review describes some sources of plant-derived polysaccharide gels, their biological function, main methods for extraction, remarkable applications, and properties in the health field.

Towards a better understanding of thermally treated polycarbophil matrix tablets for controlled release

Polycarbophil (POL), a polyacrylic acid cross-linked with divinyl glycol, is widely used in semisolid and solid dosage forms. When undergoing a thermal treatment in the range 120–160 °C, POL shows interesting morphological modifications, related to changes in physical properties, such as swelling of the powder granules, or hardening and matrix formation if included in the composition of a tablet. Thermal analysis conducted on POL highlighted a thermal event (Z) that can be correlated both to the shrinking of the powder granules and to the matrix formation in compacted POL powder. Modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) allowed to distinguish, inside event Z, an irreversible process overlapping with a reversible glass transition, attributable to the volatilization of residual solvents identified, through a complex TGA-FTIR-GC–MS interface, as acetate esters used for the polymer production as very fine powder. A specific interaction between acetates and POL, capable of stabilizing the polymer chains in a given conformation, was highlighted. The molecular rearrangement of the POL chains, following the volatilization of the solvent-stabilizers, is therefore ascribable to a loss of energetic stability of this material, which justifies the shrinking phenomena in the granules of the powder and the matrix formation when POL is compacted.

Development of N,O-Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Starch Biomaterial Inks for 3D Printed Wound Dressing Applications

In this paper, a novel hybrid biomaterial ink consisting of two water-soluble polymers is investigated: starch and N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan (NOCC). The biomaterial ink is used to fabricate controlled release biodegradable wound dressing scaffolds via a novel low-temperature solvent (organic)-free 3D printing technique. NOCC is a variant of chitosan with a high degradation rate that can lead to an immediate release of the drugs, and starch, on the other hand, is used to alter degradation and drug release characteristics of the biomaterial. Mupirocin, a topical anti-infective, is incorporated into the biomaterial inks. Different biomaterial inks in terms of NOCC to starch ratio are prepared and characterized. Printability and rheology of the samples are investigated, and the release of mupirocin over time is quantified. The efficacy of the developed 3D printed wound dressings against Staphylococcus aureus is examined through disk diffusion assays. Increasing NOCC accelerated the release of the drug from the scaffold and led to larger zones of inhibition in the early hours of the in vitro tests; this phenomenon is correlated to the enhanced hydrophilicity of NOCC-dominated scaffolds. The drug release and the zone of inhibition are controlled by altering starch to NOCC ratio in the biomaterial ink.