Gastrointestinal physiology-regulated dogs for bioavailability evaluation of an oral controlled-release dosage form composed of pulsatile release granules

Multiparticulate formulation approach to pulsatile drug delivery: current perspectives

In the body under physiological conditions, many vital functions are regulated by transient release of bioactive substances at a specific time and site. Thus, to mimic the function of living systems and in view of emerging chronotherapeutic approaches, pulsatile delivery, which is meant to release a drug following programmed lag phase, has attracted increasing interest in recent years. In pursuit of pulsatile release, various design strategies have been proposed, broadly categorized into single-unit and multiple-unit systems. However, in recent pharmaceutical applications involving pulsatile delivery, multiparticulate dosage forms are gaining much favor over single-unit dosage forms because of their potential benefits like predictable gastric emptying, no risk of dose dumping, flexible release patterns and increased bioavailability with less inter- and intra-subject variability. Based on these premises, the aim of the present review is to survey the main multiparticulate pulsatile delivery systems, for which the swelling and rupturing; dissolution or erosion; and changed permeability of the coating membrane are primarily involved in the control of release. The development of low density floating multiparticulate pulsed-release dosage forms possessing gastric retention capabilities has also been addressed with increasing focus on the upcoming multiparticulate-pulsatile technologies being exploited on an industrial scale.

Suitability of the cynomolgus monkey as an animal model for drug absorption studies of oral dosage forms from the viewpoint of gastrointestinal physiology

To determine the usefulness of the monkey as an animal model, which can predict in vivo performance of humans, the major gastrointestinal physiological parameters of this animal were evaluated. The pH of gastric juice collected by a fiberscope from the stomach in fasted cynomolgus monkeys showed a high acidity level, which ranged from 1.2 to 4.3. The gastric emptying time of oral dosage forms (solution, granules and tablets) showed that the larger size dosage forms seemed to be emptied more slowly, and three dosage forms were prolonged by feeding. The gastrointestinal agitation intensity of monkeys was estimated using controlled-release tablets of acetoaminophen, which showed a slow erosion rate. The in vivo release amount-time profiles of the tablet in fasted monkeys corresponded to their in vitro profiles with paddle agitation conditions of between 10 rpm and 50 rpm of the paddle method; this result was smaller than in dogs (100 rpm) but equivalent to that in humans (10 rpm). Further, the small intestinal transit time (SITT), estimated using a double marker method, ranged from 2.2 to 4.2 h in the fasting state and from 2.2 to 3.2 h in the fed state; the SITT was not significantly delayed by feeding. Comparison with the published data about dogs and humans showed these gastrointestinal physiological parameters of monkeys to be more similar to those of humans. Consequently, it is assumed that the monkey is useful as an animal model for bioavailability studies of oral dosage forms.

Expandable gastroretentive dosage forms

Expandable gastroretentive dosage forms (GRDFs) have been designed for the past 3 decades. They were originally created for possible veterinary use, but later the design was modified for enhanced drug therapy in humans. These GRDFs are easily swallowed and reach a significantly larger size in the stomach due to swelling or unfolding processes that prolong their gastric retention time (GRT). After drug release, their dimensions are minimized with subsequent evacuation from the stomach. Gastroretentivity is enhanced by the combination of substantial dimensions with high rigidity of the dosage form to withstand the peristalsis and mechanical contractility of the stomach. Positive results were obtained in preclinical and clinical studies evaluating GRT of expandable GRDFs. Narrow absorption window drugs compounded in such systems have improved in vivo absorption properties. These findings are an important step towards the implementation of expandable GRDFs in the clinical setting. The current review deals with expandable GRDFs reported in articles and patents, and describes the physiological basis of their design. Using the dog as a preclinical screening model prior to human studies, relevant imaging techniques and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic aspects of such delivery systems are also discussed.

Technology to obtain sustained release characteristics of drugs after delivered to the colon

To determine the necessary technology by which sustained drug release is obtained after drug is delivered to the colon, two kinds of microcapsules were prepared and were filled in a pressure-controlled colon delivery capsule (PCDC). As a model drug 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) was used, because the target site of 5-ASA is the entire large intestine. 5-ASA was microencapsulated using a water-insoluble polymer, ethylcellulose (EC) or with pH-sensitive polymers, Eudragit L-100 or S-100 and encased in PCDC. The particle size of these microcapsules was around 800 microns and the loading efficiencies of 5-ASA were approximately 90%. In vitro dissolution tests were performed with the prepared microcapsules. The release rate of 5-ASA from the microcapsules was significantly prolonged as compared to 5-ASA powder, although there were no significant differences in the release rates between these microcapsules. By incorporating the 5-ASA microcapsules into PCDC, sustained release PCDCs for colon delivery were prepared and in vivo evaluation was performed using beagle dogs. As a fast release colon delivery system, PCDCs were prepared with 5-ASA powder suspended in suppository base. After oral administration of the test preparations to beagle dogs, plasma 5-ASA concentrations were measured and sustained release characteristics of 5-ASA from the test preparations were evaluated from the plasma 5-ASA concentration-time profiles. The first appearance time of 5-ASA into the systemic circulation after oral administration were 3 h for all the colon delivery preparations and it was thought that these test preparations were delivered to the colon. Both EC microcapsules and Eudragit S-100/RS-100 microcapsules in PCDC showed longer the mean residence time MRT, 8.2 +/- 0.6 h and 8.7 +/- 0.9 h, than Eudragit L-100/RS-100 microcapsules in PCDC where the MRT was 6.6 +/- 0.2 h. Since PCDCs containing 5-ASA powder exhibited a MRT of 7.0 +/- 1.0 h, these two types of preparations have suggested sustained release characteristics.