Impact of the Preparation Method on the Formulation Properties of Allantoin Hydrogels: Evaluation Using Semi-Solid Control Diagram (SSCD) Principles

Allantoin possesses numerous beneficial properties for the skin, like anti-irritant effects, wound healing, skin hydration, and epithelization. In this paper, we investigated a suitable preparation method for an allantoin hydrogel using the Semi-Solid Control Diagram (SSCD) method and characterized its rheological and consistency behavior. To accomplish this, xanthan gum (XG) was selected as a model gelling agent. Briefly, four hydrogels were prepared, two without allantoin (coded M01 and M02) and two with allantoin (M1 and M2). Similarly, the formulations were either prepared through magnetic stirring (M01 and M1) or homogenization in a mortar (M02 and M2). The prepared hydrogels were evaluated using the SSCD for specific parameters and indexes. The Good Quality Index (GQI) shows a higher value for the formulation, M1 = 6.27, compared to M2 = 5.45. This result is also underlined by the value of M01 = 6.45, which is higher than M02 = 6.38. Considering the consistency, the formulation M01 possessed the highest spreadability, followed by M02 and then the allantoin hydrogels M1 and M2. The rheological behavior had a thixotropic pseudoplastic flow for all the formulations. The use of SSCD pictographs outlined the rheological properties that need improvement, the method that is suitable to prepare the allantoin hydrogels, and the influence of the allantoin suspended in the XG hydrogel.

The Influence of the Intergranular Superdisintegrant Performance on New Drotaverine Orodispersible Tablet Formulations

The main objective of this study consists in establishing the influence of the intergranular superdisintegrant on the specific properties of drotaverine hydrochloride fast-dissolving granules (DROT-FDGs) and orodispersible tablets (DROT-ODTs). The orodispersible tablets were obtained by the compression of the FDGs and excipient mixture with an eccentric tableting machine. To develop DROT-ODTs, two types of superdisintegrant excipients in different concentrations (water-soluble soy polysaccharides (SSP) (1%, 5%) and water-insoluble soy polysaccharides-Emcosoy® STS IP (EMCS) (1%, 3%, 5%)) were used, resulting in five formulations (D1-D5). The DROT-FDGs and the DROT-ODTs were subjected to pharmacotechnical and analytical evaluation. All the orodispersible tablets obtained respect the quality requirements in terms of friability (less than 1%), crushing strength (ranging between 52 N for D2 and 125.5 N for D3), and disintegration time (<180 s). The in vitro release of drotaverine from ODTs showed that all formulations presented amounts of active substance released greater than 85% at 10 min. The main objective, developing 30 mg DROT-ODTs for children aged between 6 and 12 years by incorporating the API in FDGs, was successfully achieved.

Preparation and Evaluation of Caffeine Orodispersible Films: The Influence of Hydrotropic Substances and Film-Forming Agent Concentration on Film Properties

This study aimed to develop caffeine (CAF) orodispersible films (ODFs) and verify the effects of different percentages of film-forming agent and hydrotropic substances (citric acid-CA or sodium benzoate-SB) on various film properties. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose E 5 (HPMC E 5) orodispersible films were prepared using the solvent casting method. Four CAF-ODF formulations were prepared and coded as CAF1 (8% HPMC E 5, CAF), CAF2 (8% HPMC E 5 and CAF:CA-1:1), CAF3 (9% HPMC E 5 and CAF:CA-1:1), and CAF4 (9% HPMC E 5 and CAF:SB-1:1). The CAF-ODFs were evaluated in terms of disintegration time, folding endurance, thickness, uniformity of mass, CAF content, thickness-normalized tensile strength, adhesiveness, dissolution, and pH. Thin, opaque, and slightly white CAF-ODFs were obtained. All the formulations developed exhibited disintegration times less than 3 min. The dissolution test revealed that CAF1, CAF2, and CAF3 exhibited concentrations of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) released at 30 min that were close to 100%, whilst CAF4 showed a faster dissolution behaviour (100% of the CAF was released at 5 min). Thin polymeric films containing 10 mg of CAF/surface area (3.14 cm²) were prepared.

Structural Characterization and Optimization of a Miconazole Oral Gel

The development of semisolid formulations, gels in particular, has raised the attention of scientists more and more over the last decades. Because of their biocompatibility, hydrophilic nature, and capacity of absorbing large quantities of water, hydrogels are still one of the most promising pharmaceutical formulations in the pharmaceutical industry. The purpose of this study is to develop an optimal formulation capable of incorporating a water-poorly soluble active ingredient such as miconazole used in the treatment of fungal infections with Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis. A D-optimal design was applied to study the relationship between the formulation parameter and the gel characteristics. The independent parameters used in this study were the Carbopol 940 concentration (the polymer used to obtain the gel matrix), the sodium hydroxide amount, and the presence/absence of miconazole. Ten different dependent parameters (Y1-Y10) were evaluated (penetrometry, spreadability, viscosity, and tangential tension at 1 and 11 levels of speed whilst destructuring and during the reorganization of the gel matrix). The consistency of the gels ranged from 23.2 mm (GO2) to 29.6 mm (GM5). The least spreadable gel was GO7 (1384 mm²), whilst the gel that presented the best spreadability was GO1 (3525 mm²). The viscosity and the tangential stress at the selected levels (1 and 11) varied due to the different compositions of the proposed gels. The gels were also tested for drug content and antifungal activity. All determinations had satisfying results; the drug content was within limits accepted by Ph. Eur. 10 and all formulations containing miconazole exhibited antifungal activity. An optimal formulation with miconazole was attained, consisting of 0.84% Carbopol 940 and 0.32% sodium hydroxide.

Pharmacotechnical and analytical preformulation studies for cannabidiol orodispersible tablets

Obtaining orodispersible tablets (ODT) containing substances from the second Biopharmaceutical Class has raised concerns as the dissolution test is challenging. This study aimed to select suitable excipients for developing orodispersible tablets containing cannabidiol (CBD) by direct compression method. No similar studies were found in the literature. Excipients from different classes were characterized using the SeDeM-ODT tool: fillers – lactose (LCT) and microcrystalline cellulose (CelMC), sweeteners – sorbitol (SRB) and mannitol (MNT), disintegrants – sodium starch glycolate (SSG), sodium croscarmellose (CCS), soy polysaccharides (Emcosoy® – EMCS) and two co-processed excipients (Prosolv®-ODT G2 – PODTG2 and Prosolv® EasyTab sp – PETsp). Drug compatibility with excipients in binary mixtures (1:1) was verified by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform-Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Using the SeDeM-ODT expert system, the fillers and the co-processed excipients showed good properties regarding compressibility and disintegration behavior. Also, the DSC and FTIR results showed that small or no interactions between the CBD and the excipients took place.

Cannabidiol - therapeutic and legal aspects

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an alkaloid present in Cannabis sativa, along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and more than 100 other substances belonging to a group of compounds called cannabinoids. Whereas the legal status and medical use of Cannabis is a controversial issue in many countries, inconsistent legislation makes CBD status even more complicated. Some CBD products are legal in some countries, while banned in other countries, further compounding the confusion. In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first CBD containing medical product, Epidiolex^®, for the treatment of paediatric seizures. Currently, several clinical trials are in progress for the potential treatment of neurologic and behavioural disorders. CBD's current legal and regulatory status is a continuously evolving issue; the current review is presenting historical and present information regarding the use of CBD products worldwide.

DSC and FT-IR Analysis for the Formulation of Dermal Films with Meloxicam in Bioadhesive Polymeric Matrices

The film forming polymers have a primary role in controlling the diffusion of the drug molecules and the bioavailability, its compatibility with the drug being an essential factor of the formulation. This study aimed the thermal analysis by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) evaluation of meloxicam associated with HPMC E5, HPMC 15000 and ethylcellulose, in order to identify the compatibility of associations. The results showed that meloxicam has minor interactions in binary or ternary physical mixtures with the three studied polymers, proving that the mixtures are suitable for obtaining bioadhesive matrices by casting and solvent evaporation method.

Development of Dermal Films Containing Miconazole Nitrate

This study aims to develop new antifungal dermal films based on their mechanical properties (elongation, adhesion, behaviour towards vapour moisture) and the in vitro availability of miconazole nitrate, used as a pharmaceutical active ingredient in various concentrations. The three polymeric films prepared were translucent or shiny, with the surface of 63.585 cm², 0.20⁻0.30 mm thickness, and content of miconazole nitrate of 3.931 or 15.726 mg·cm². The mechanical resistance and elongation tests demonstrated that the two films based on hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) polymer were more elastic than the one prepared with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). The vapour water absorption and vapour water loss capacity of the films revealed that the HPMC film did not dry very well in the process of preparation by the evaporation of the solvent technique, unlike the HEC films that jellified more evenly in water and had higher drying capacity at 40 °C. The in vitro availability of miconazole nitrate from dermal films was evaluated using the Franz diffusion cell method, through a synthetic membrane (Ø 25 mm × 0.45 µm) and acceptor media with pH 7.4 (phosphate buffer and sodium lauryl sulphate 0.045%), resulting a release rate of up to 70%.

Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Matrix Type Transdermal Therapeutic Systems

Objective: Transdermal therapeutic systems (TTSs) represent an intensely studied alternative to oral delivery of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the treatment of rheumatic diseases due to its ability of avoiding the side effects of the oral route. This study aims to present the evaluation of the mechanical properties of three NSAIDs (meloxicam, tenoxicam and indomethacin) individually included in four type of polymeric matrixes, as part of new formulations development process. Methods: 12 products in form of TTS matrixes were prepared by solvent casting evaporation technique, using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC 15000, HPMC E5) and/or ethylcellulose as matrix-forming polymers. Each of the resulted products was evaluated by determining the water vapor absorption, desorption or transmission in controlled atmosphere humidity (evaluation of porosity); the elongation capacity, tensile strength and bioadhesiveness (evaluation of mechanical properties). Results: The analysis of three groups of the experimental data expressed as averages on each group was necessary, in order to identify the parameters which statistically are critically influenced by the ingredients associated in the TTSs matrix compositions. Analysis by normality tests, variance and correlation tests (Anova, Pearson) enabled evaluation of the effect of NSAID type vs. the effect of polymer matrix type on the parameters of the NSAID TTS matrix. Conclusions: Meloxicam incorporated in the structure of HPMC 15000 polymeric matrix favors its viscoelastic structure. Ethylcellulose functions as plasticizer and supports the matrix bioadhesiveness. HPMC E5 does not meet the requirements for TTS preparation in the used experimental conditions.

Development of a modified-release pellets formulation--with metoprolol tartrat and kinetic aspects of in vitro release

AIM

The development of a new pellets formulation which is able to modulate the release of metoprolol tartrate, an active pharmaceutical ingredient very soluble in water and therefore very difficult to process.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two types of different viscosity grade hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (Methocel K100; HPMC 15.000) and Eudragit NE30D are used as prolonged drug release agents, thus resulting in three formulations which have been prepared in form of pellets, in a conventional coating pan. The obtained pellets are characterized and compared in terms of: particles size distribution, drug loading efficiency, drug content and kinetic of in vitro drug release.

RESULTS

Lower amounts of Eudragit NE30D (7.5%) determine more uniform size distributions of particles. Drug content and charging efficiency is higher in case of fractions ranging in size from 0.80 to 1.25 mm. The combination of HPMC 15000 with 10% Eudragit NE30D leads to a prolongation for a period of 11.5 hours of metoprolol tartrate release. Release kinetics analysis was performed by fitting the in vitro release profile with different kinetic models.

CONCLUSIONS

It was developed a pellets formulation that release in vitro the metoprolol tartrate in an extended mode, with Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic-type.