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Lopez-Vidal L, Parodi P, Actis MR, Camacho N, Real DA, Paredes AJ, Irazoqui FJ, Real JP, Palma SD. Formulation and optimization of pH-sensitive nanocrystals for improved oral delivery. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024; 14:1301-1318. [PMID: 37953429 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01463-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
The challenge of low water solubility in pharmaceutical science profoundly impacts drug absorption and therapeutic effectiveness. Nanocrystals (NC), consisting of drug molecules and stabilizing agents, offer a promising solution to enhance solubility and control release rates. In the pharmaceutical industry, top-down techniques are favored for their flexibility and cost-effectiveness. However, increased solubility can lead to premature drug dissolution in the stomach, which is problematic due to the acidic pH or enzymes. Researchers are exploring encapsulating agents that facilitate drug release at customized pH levels as a valuable strategy to address this. This study employed wet milling and spray drying techniques to create encapsulated NC for delivering the drug to the intestinal tract using the model drug ivermectin (IVM). Nanosuspensions (NS) were efficiently produced within 2 h using NanoDisp®, with a particle size of 198.4 ± 0.6 nm and a low polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.184, ensuring uniformity. Stability tests over 100 days at 4 °C and 25 °C demonstrated practical viability, with no precipitation or significant changes observed. Cytotoxicity evaluations indicated less harm to Caco-2 cells compared to the pure drug. Furthermore, the solubility of the NC increased by 47-fold in water and 4.8-fold in simulated intestinal fluid compared to the pure active compound. Finally, dissolution tests showed less than 10% release in acidic conditions and significant improvement in simulated intestinal conditions, promising enhanced drug solubility and bioavailability. This addresses a long-standing pharmaceutical challenge in a cost-effective and scalable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Lopez-Vidal
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences, National University of Córdoba (FCQ-UNC), Haya de la torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA, Córdoba, Argentina
- Pharmaceutical Technology Research and Development Unit (UNITEFA) - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Pedro Parodi
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences, National University of Córdoba (FCQ-UNC), Haya de la torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA, Córdoba, Argentina
- Center for Research in Biological Chemistry of Cordoba (CIQUIBIC) - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maribel Romanela Actis
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences, National University of Córdoba (FCQ-UNC), Haya de la torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Nahuel Camacho
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences, National University of Córdoba (FCQ-UNC), Haya de la torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA, Córdoba, Argentina
- Pharmaceutical Technology Research and Development Unit (UNITEFA) - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Daniel Andrés Real
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences, National University of Córdoba (FCQ-UNC), Haya de la torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA, Córdoba, Argentina
- Pharmaceutical Technology Research and Development Unit (UNITEFA) - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Alejandro J Paredes
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Fernando José Irazoqui
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences, National University of Córdoba (FCQ-UNC), Haya de la torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA, Córdoba, Argentina
- Center for Research in Biological Chemistry of Cordoba (CIQUIBIC) - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Real
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences, National University of Córdoba (FCQ-UNC), Haya de la torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA, Córdoba, Argentina
- Pharmaceutical Technology Research and Development Unit (UNITEFA) - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Santiago Daniel Palma
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences, National University of Córdoba (FCQ-UNC), Haya de la torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA, Córdoba, Argentina.
- Pharmaceutical Technology Research and Development Unit (UNITEFA) - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Rossetti A, Real DA, Barrientos BA, Allemandi DA, Paredes AJ, Real JP, Palma SD. Significant progress in improving Atorvastatin dissolution rate: Physicochemical characterization and stability assessment of self-dispersible Atorvastatin/Tween 80® nanocrystals formulated through wet milling and freeze-drying. Int J Pharm 2024; 650:123720. [PMID: 38110014 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Atorvastatin (ATV) is a first-line drug for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. This drug presents biopharmaceutical problems, partly due to its low solubility and dissolution rate. In this work, nanocrystals of ATV stabilized with Tween 80® were designed by wet milling. A full factorial design was applied to optimize the process. Additionally, a cryoprotectant agent (maltodextrin, MTX) was identified, which allowed maintaining the properties of the nanocrystals after lyophilization. The storage stability of the nanocrystals was demonstrated for six months in different conditions. The obtained nanocrystal powder was characterized using SEM, EDXS, TEM, DSC, TGA, FT-IR, and XRD, showing the presence of irregular crystals with semi-amorphous characteristics, likely due to the particle collision process. Based on the reduction in particle size and the decrease in drug crystallinity, a significant increase in water and phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) solubility by 4 and 6 times, respectively, was observed. On the other hand, a noticeable increase in the dissolution rate was observed, with 90 % of the drug dissolved within 60 min of study, compared to 30 % of the drug dissolved within 12 h in the case of the untreated drug or the physical mixture of components. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the nano-milling of Atorvastatin stabilized with Tween 80® is a promising strategy for developing new formulations with improved biopharmaceutical properties of this widely used drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Rossetti
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica (UNITEFA), CONICET, Argentina; Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Daniel Andrés Real
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica (UNITEFA), CONICET, Argentina; Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Bruno Andrés Barrientos
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica (UNITEFA), CONICET, Argentina; Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Daniel Alberto Allemandi
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica (UNITEFA), CONICET, Argentina; Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Alejandro J Paredes
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Juan Pablo Real
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica (UNITEFA), CONICET, Argentina; Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Santiago Daniel Palma
- Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica (UNITEFA), CONICET, Argentina; Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende, X5000XHUA Córdoba, Argentina.
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Frenquelli E, Real DA, Llabot JM, Pierella L, Formica ML, Real JP, Palma SD. Design of a pilot plant-type pharmaceutical reactor to address the problem of interchangeability of generic semisolid formulations. Drug Dev Ind Pharm 2023; 49:703-714. [PMID: 37883065 DOI: 10.1080/03639045.2023.2276143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE AND SIGNIFICANCE This research aims to design and develop a pilot plant-type pharmaceutical reactor with a strong focus on its volumetric capacity and heat transfer capabilities. The primary goal is to replicate design and control strategies at the laboratory or pilot scale to analyze and produce generic semisolid formulations. METHODS Computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer modeling, utilizing the finite volume method, were employed to determine the reactor's performance and particle trajectory during the mixing and stirring. This allowed for the establishment of optimal operational parameters and variables. Furthermore, prototypes were constructed at 1:2.5 and 1:15 scales to examine the reactor's morphology, ensure volumetric versatility, and conduct mixing, homogenization, and coloration tests using varying volumes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The outcomes of this study yielded a versatile reactor suitable for processing pharmaceutical semisolids at both laboratory and pilot-scale volumes. Notably, the reactor demonstrated exceptional volumetric capacity within a single vessel while effectively facilitating heat transfer to its interior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Frenquelli
- UNITEFA - CONICET, Faculty of Chemical Sciences (FCQ-UNC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Daniel A Real
- UNITEFA - CONICET, Faculty of Chemical Sciences (FCQ-UNC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Juan M Llabot
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Navarra, Spain
| | - Liliana Pierella
- Chemical Research and Technology Center (CITeQ), UTN - CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - María L Formica
- UNITEFA - CONICET, Faculty of Chemical Sciences (FCQ-UNC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Juan P Real
- UNITEFA - CONICET, Faculty of Chemical Sciences (FCQ-UNC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Santiago D Palma
- UNITEFA - CONICET, Faculty of Chemical Sciences (FCQ-UNC), Córdoba, Argentina
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