Soft, chewable gelatin-based pharmaceutical oral formulations: a technical approach

An Overview of Taste-Masking Technologies: Approaches, Application, and Assessment Methods

It is well-known that plenty of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) inherently possess an unpleasant taste, which influences the acceptance of patients, especially children. Therefore, manufacturing taste-masked dosage forms has attracted a lot of attention. This review describes in detail the taste-masking technologies based on the difference in the taste transmission mechanism which is currently available. In particular, the review highlights the application of various methods, with a special focus on how to screen the appropriate masking technology according to the properties of API. Subsequently, we overviewed how to assess taste-masking efficacy, guiding researchers to rationally design taste-masking formulations.

Nanoparticle-based chewable gels of praziquantel

Chewable gels present significant advantages over conventional dosage forms, despite their development is not comprehensively assessed. In this sense, six formulations, varying gelatine concentration, dose, and form of incorporation of praziquantel, were developed and characterized. The novelty of this approach focused not only on the development of the formulation itself but also on the incorporation of the drug in a nanoparticulated form. The obtained results for moisture content, water activity, pH, and drug content were within the expected values for this type of formulation. On the other hand, texture and disintegration parameters were influenced by the form of incorporation of praziquantel and the amount of gelatine added. Finally, in vitro dissolution of chewable gels showed significant differences with intermediate products, though the improved dissolution of the nanoparticulated drug was maintained. In conclusion, nanoparticulate drugs can be incorporated into these semisolid formulations and could be successfully applied to other low-aqueous solubility drugs.

Semisolid Extrusion 3D Printing of Propranolol Hydrochloride Gummy Chewable Tablets: an Innovative Approach to Prepare Personalized Medicine for Pediatrics

The demand for personalized medicine has received extensive attention, especially in pediatric preparations. An emerging technology, extrusion-based 3D printing, is highly attractive in the field of personalized medicine. In this study, we prepared propranolol hydrochloride (PR) gummy chewable tablets tailored for children by semisolid extrusion (SSE) 3D printing technology to meet personalized medicine needs in pediatrics. In this study, the effects of critical formulation variables on the rheological properties and printability of gum materials were investigated by constructing a full-factorial design. In addition, the masticatory properties, thermal stability, and disintegration time of the preparations were evaluated. Bitterness inhibitors were used to mask the bitterness of the preparations. The results of the full-factorial design showed that the amount of gelatin and carrageenan were the key factors in the formulation. Gelatin can improve printability and masticatory properties, carrageenan can improve thermal stability, and accelerate the disintegration of preparations; therefore, a reasonable combination of both could satisfactorily meet the demand for high-quality 3D printing. γ-Aminobutyric acid can reduce the bitterness of gummy chewable tablets to improve medication compliance and the determined formulation (F7) met the quality requirements. In conclusion, the gum material has excellent potential as an extrusion material for 3D printing. The dosage can be adjusted flexibly by the model shape and size. 3D printing has broad prospects in pediatric preparations.

Recent Advances in Gelatin-Based Nanomedicine for Targeted Delivery of Anti-Cancer Drugs

Nanoparticles based on natural polymers are utilized for the development of a wide range of drug delivery systems (DDS) in the current era. Gelatin-based nanoparticles, for example, are a remarkable cancer therapy with high efficacy and specificity. This paper reviews the recent advancements in gelatin-based nanomedicine for use in cancer therapeutics. Due to the characteristics features of gelatin, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, stability, and good surface properties, these nanoparticles provide high therapeutic potency in cancer nanomedicine. The surface of gelatin can be modified in a number of ways using various ligands to explore the platform for the development of a more novel DDS. Various methods are available for the preparation of gelatin nanomedicine discussed in this review. In addition, various cross-linkers to stabilized nanocarriers and stimuli base gelatin nanoparticles are reviewed. Furthermore, recent advances and research in gelatin-based nanomedicine are discussed. Also, some drawbacks and challenges are evaluated. In general, this paper paves the pathway to identify the details about the gelatin-based DDS for cancer therapy.

Development of Innovative Chewable Gel Tablets Containing Nutmeg Essential Oil Microcapsules and Their Physical Properties Evaluation

Chewable gel tablets are a dosed pharmaceutical form, which can have an active substance, pharmacological effect, or value of nutrition. The texture of these tablets is soft, springy, flexible, and elastic—this is influenced by the chosen ingredients. The aim of this study was to prepare chewable gel tablets with nutmeg essential oil-loaded microcapsules and determine the volatile compounds released from this pharmaceutical form. Gel tablets were prepared by using gelatin as basis, nutmeg essential oil as active compound, and natural ingredients: thyme-sugar syrup, thyme extract, and citric acid as taste and color additives. Texture properties were measured by a texture analyzer. The release of volatile compounds from nutmeg essential oil and gel tablets were analyzed by headspace-gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy in control and artificial saliva conditions in vitro. Nutmeg essential oil microcapsules had influence on the gel tablet’s physical properties (p < 0.05, by comparing tablets without glycerol and relative sample with glycerol); glycerol protects the tablets from the formation of sugar crystals on top and keeps good physical parameters (p < 0.05). A total of 12 volatile compounds were identified in nutmeg essential oil, and the six compounds with the highest amounts were selected as controls. Gel tablets prolong the release time of volatile compounds and reduce the amount of the compounds compared to the microcapsules (p < 0.05).

The Effect of Myristica fragrans on Texture Properties and Shelf-Life of Innovative Chewable Gel Tablets

Chewable gel tablets are an underdeveloped subject, even though there are many simple chewable tablets and gummy candies in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Chewable gel tablets are not as sweet, they can have an active substance, pharmacological effect, and a value of nutrition. The aim of this study was to prepare gelatin-based chewable tablets with Myristica fragrans as a preservative and to determine the shelf-life variability depending on storage conditions, and to evaluate texture changes. Firmness and springiness of gel tablets were measured by a texture analyzer and compared between different storage conditions and the shelf-life of tablets was established by mold growing time. Chewable gel tablets were prepared by using silicone form. Mold was most likely to grow on tablets that have been packaged in squeezable bags (after 14 days 60% of all formulations had a mold, p < 0.05). The most stable tablets (over 180 days) were in sealed boxes and contained nutmeg essential oil or its solution, or ethanolic nutmeg extract. The gel tablets’ firmness increased about 4 times when they were stored in opened plastic boxes and their springiness decreased about 1.65 times after 28 days in the mentioned conditions, p < 0.05. Nutmeg hydrolat had the highest influence on texture variation (p < 0.05).

Soft-chewable paracetamol tablets by melt granulation method: Formulation and characterization

Background:

Oral drug delivery is the most preferred route for drug administration in the world, with tablets being one of the most common dosage forms. However, some people, particularly children and the elderly, have difficulty swallowing the tablets. Chewable tablets are the dosage form that can address the issue while also providing a valuable masking effect on drug taste, allowing patients to swallow the drugs more easily.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, the chewable tablets were manufactured using the melt granulation method, which resulted in tablets with a chewy texture. The tablets contained paracetamol as well as Arabic gum, starch, agar, and mannitol.

Results:

The drug release profiles for the fragmented form showed that 50% of the drug was released within 4 min and 100% was released within 30 min of the dissolution process. The intact form released nearly 90% of the drug within 2 h.

Conclusion:

Formulation 2 was determined as the best formulation. This tablets' formulation had passed all characterization tests and displayed a moderate hardness and chewy texture.

Better Medicines for Older Patients: Considerations between Patient Characteristics and Solid Oral Dosage Form Designs to Improve Swallowing Experience

Oral drug administration provided as solid oral dosage forms (SODF) remains the major route of drug therapy in primary and secondary care. There is clear evidence for a growing number of clinically relevant swallowing issues (e.g., dysphagia) in the older patient population, especially when considering the multimorbid, frail, and polymedicated patients. Swallowing impairments have a negative impact on SODF administration, which leads to poor adherence and inappropriate alterations (e.g., crushing, splitting). Different strategies have been proposed over the years in order to enhance the swallowing experience with SODF, by using conventional administration techniques or applying swallowing aids and devices. Nevertheless, new formulation designs must be considered by implementing a patient centric approach in order to efficiently improve SODF administration by older patient populations. Together with appropriate SODF size reductions, innovative film coating materials that can be applied to SODF and provide swallowing safety and efficacy with little effort being required by the patients are still needed. With that in mind, a literature review was conducted in order to identify the availability of patient centric coating materials claiming to shorten esophageal transit times and improve the overall SODF swallowing experience for older patients. The majority of coating technologies were identified in patent applications, and they mainly included well-known water soluble polymers that are commonly applied into pharmaceutical coatings. Nevertheless, scientific evidence demonstrating the benefits of given SODF coating materials in the concerned patient populations are still very limited. Consequently, the availability for safe, effective, and clinically proven solutions to address the increasing prevalence of swallowing issues in the older patient population is still limited.