Microencapsulation of ketorolac tromethamine by means of a coacervation-phase separation technique induced by the addition of non-solvent

Preparation of Carbopol 934 Based Ketorolac Tromethamine Buccal Mucoadhesive Film: In Vitro, Ex Vivo, and In Vivo Assessments

The goal of present investigation was to formulate and evaluate ketorolac tromethamine (KTM) mucoadhesive buccal films. The films were prepared by solvent evaporation method using PVP K30, HPMC K4M, HPMC K15M, carbopol 934, chitosan, and sodium alginate as polymers and propylene glycol as plasticizer. The films were evaluated for thickness, weight variation, folding endurance, surface pH, swelling index, in vitro residence time, in vitro diffusion, release kinetics, ex vivo permeation, in vitro-ex vivo correlation, and in vivo pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. Thickness, weight, drug content, and folding endurance were found to be uniform for the films. Surface pH was $6.85\pm 0.10$ , and swelling index was the highest ( $27.27\pm 0.37$ ) for the best film containing carbopol 934 along with sodium alginate and PVP K 30 (formulation code F2). In vitro residence time was greater than 5 h, and in vitro % drug release was 98.71% for F2. It exhibited 55.49% of swelling inhibition at 5 h, and above 38.88% was maintained at even 8 h. The film F2 has shown maximum analgesic response of 17 sec at 5 h, and the response of 11 sec was maintained at even 8 h. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of F2 was found be maximum while sustaining the effect for prolonged period when compared to free drug solution. Thus, KTM mucoadhesive buccal film containing carbopol 934, sodium alginate, and PVP K30 could be an effective alternative for conventional therapy with improved efficacy.

Microspheres and tablet in capsule system: A novel chronotherapeutic system of ketorolac tromethamine for site and time specific delivery

The objective of the present work was to develop a novel delivery system of ketorolac tromethamine (KT) for dual pulse release based on microspheres and tablet in capsule system (MATICS) as a treatment modality for rheumatoid arthritis. The design consisted of an impermeable hard gelatin capsule body, in which a core tablet was (second pulse) placed in the bottom and sealed with a hydrogel plug (HP2). The body was locked with enteric coated cap filled with KT microspheres (first pulse). The microspheres for first pulse were selected by screening the formulations (M1–M6), and M1 with least particle size of 96.38 ± 0.05 μm, highest drug loading of 25.10% ± 0.28% and maximum CDR of 89.32% ± 0.21% was adjudged as the best formulation. The HP2 tablet was selected based on its capability for maintaining a lag period of 6 h. The selection criterion of the second pulse (core tablet: T3) was its disintegration time of 4.02 ± 0.53 min and CDR of 99.10% ± 0.32% in 30 min. All the optimized formulations were assembled in accordance with the proposed design to form pulsatile MATICS and evaluated for in vitro release. MATICS displayed delayed sustained CDR of 80.15% in 8 h from the first pulse (microspheres) after a lag time of 2 h, followed by 97.05% KT release from second pulse (core tablet) in simulated colonic fluid within 10 h. Conclusively, in vitro pulsatile release was a rational combination of delayed sustained and immediate release of KT that has the potential to combat the pain at night and morning stiffness. Incorporation of two pulses in one system offers a reduction in dose frequency and better pain management.

Effect of hexacosanol on the characteristics of novel sustained-release allopurinol solid lipospheres (SLS): factorial design application and product evaluation

This investigation involved the evaluation of the effect of hexacosanol (HC, ceryl alcohol), a new hydrophobic wax modifier (WM) in comparison with conventional modifiers, on the development of sustained-release allopurinol (AP) solid lipospheres (SLS) intended for use in a suspension formulation and other oral dosage forms. Various beeswax (BW)/WM blends (composition ratio 1:1) were thus used to prepare SLS by a modified oil-in-water emulsion meltable disperse-phase (MDP) encapsulation method without using organic solvents and the influence of these blends on the drug encapsulation efficiency (EE), size distribution and the time for 50% of the drug to be released (t50%) was investigated. Results indicated that incorporation of HC in wall matrix of SLS provided the means to enhance the EE of AP and to modulate the rate of drug release into dissolution media (simulated gastric fluid (S.G.F.: pH 1.2) and simulated intestinal fluid (S.I.F.: pH 7.4). The effects of the process variables; HC concentration, dispersant (pluronic F-68: PF-68) concentration and drug:wax ratio were also studied on the properties of AP-loaded SLS by a 2(3) factorial design. The EE values were in the range of 80.8-92.67%. The only significant parameter affecting (P<0.01) the size and size distribution of the SLS formulations was the amount of the PF-68, whereas the factor with the biggest influence (P<0.05) on the drug EE was the initial loading of AP (in terms of the drug:wax ratio). The amount of HC blended with wax and the initial drug loading significantly (P<0.01) affected the t50% values of all of the formulations. The release of AP was more extended (t50% values (S.I.F.; pH 7.4)=9.91-25.36 h, depending on the drug:wax ratio) and surface morphology of SLS was improved with higher HC content (15%, w/w) formulations. The release patterns fitted the Baker-Lonsdale dissolution kinetics for spherical matrices. A significant decrease of plasma uric acid levels (P<0.05) and hepatic impairment in male rats was observed after oral administration of a SLS (mean size: 120 microm) suspensions of the optimum formulation, compared to suspensions of pure AP.