Development of a novel direct compressible co-processed excipient and its application for formulation of Mirtazapine orally disintegrating tablets

INTRODUCTION

Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) are designed to dissolve in the oral cavity within 3 min, providing a convenient option for patients as they can be taken without water. Direct compression is the most common method used for ODTs formulations. However, the availability of single composite excipients with desirable characteristics such as good compressibility, fast disintegration, and a good mouthfeel suitable for direct compression is limited.

OBJECTIVE

This research was proposed to develop a co-processed excipient composed of xylitol, mannitol, and microcrystalline cellulose for the formulation of ODTs.

METHODS

A total of 11 formulations of co-processed excipients with different ratios of ingredients were prepared, which were then compressed into ODTs, and their characteristics were thoroughly examined. The primary focus was on evaluating the disintegration time and hardness of the tablets, as these factors are important in ensuring the ODTs meet the desired criteria. The model drug, Mirtazapine was then incorporated into the chosen optimized formulation.

RESULTS

The results showed that the formulation comprised of 10% xylitol, 10% mannitol and 80% microcrystalline cellulose demonstrated the fastest disintegration time (1.77 ± 0.119 min) and sufficient hardness (3.521 ± 0.143 kg) compared to the other formulations. Furthermore, the drug was uniformly distributed within the tablets and fully released within 15 min.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, the developed co-processed excipients show great potential in enhancing the functionalities of ODTs, offering a promising solution to improve the overall performance and usability of ODTs in various therapeutic applications.

Compounding and Characterization of Oral Disintegrating Films Containing Memantine Hydrochloride for Geriatrics

Memantine hydrochloride is commonly prescribed for Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. However, the drug is only available in tablet form, a dosage form which is difficult for geriatrics to swallow. This problem is especially difficult for those patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's. This study was therefore aimed to develop and characterize an oral disintegrating film containing memantine hydrochloride using different types and concentrations of polymers. Using the solvent casting method, twelve formulations were developed, which involved manipulations on the type and concentration of the polymer. Afterwards, six formulations were selected to undergo characterization tests. These tests evaluated the films' tensile strength, Young's Modulus, percent elongation, folding endurance, disintegration and dissolution time, content uniformity, moisture loss, and moisture uptake. Polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and pullulan gum were respectively incorporated at different concentrations. The study found that only hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and polyvinyl alcohol formulations developed into acceptable oral disintegrating films. Formulation E (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 50-mg/film), which exhibited optimal mechanical strength, fast disintegration and dissolution, and excellent content uniformity, was identified as the best formula. Although polyvinyl alcohol showed higher mechanical strength, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose films were better at fulfilling the optimal characteristics of an oral disintegrating film. The study showed that the mechanical strength increased proportionally to the polymer concentration in the polyvinyl alcohol film. However, for the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose film, the mechanical strength increased only when hydroxypropyl methylcellulose's concentration was increased from a 40-mg/film to a 50-mg/film but decreased with a 60-mg/film. To summarize, orally disintegrating films containing memantine hydrochloride was developed, characterized, and reasoned to have high potential to be marketed and to increase medication compliance among geriatrics suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Natural alternatives from your garden for hair care: Revisiting the benefits of tropical herbs

Hair shampoos containing botanical ingredients without synthetic additives, such as parabens, petrochemicals, sulfates and silicones are more skin- and environmentally friendly. In recent years, there is a growing demand for shampoo products with botanical extracts. Shampoos with botanical extracts are well-known for their perceived health benefits. They are also generally milder, non-toxic, natural, and less likely to disrupt the hair and scalp's natural pH and oil balance. Many also believe that shampoos with botanical origins have higher standards of quality. Numerous botanical extracts had been used as natural active ingredients in cosmetic formulations to meet consumer demands. In this review, we have revisited six tropical plants commonly added as natural active ingredients in shampoo formulations: Acacia concinna, Camellia oleifera, Azadirachta indica, Emblica officinalis, Sapindus mukorossi, and Garcinia mangostana. These plants have been traditionally used for hair care, and scientific research has shown that they exhibit relevant physicochemical properties and biological activities that are beneficial for hair care and scalp maintenance.

Optimization of a Luteolin-Loaded TPGS/Poloxamer 407 Nanomicelle: The Effects of Copolymers, Hydration Temperature and Duration, and Freezing Temperature on Encapsulation Efficiency, Particle Size, and Solubility

BACKGROUND

Luteolin is a flavonoid compound that has been widely studied for its various anti-cancer properties and sensitization to multidrug-resistant cells. However, the limited solubility and bioavailability of Lut hindered its potential clinical use. Theoretically, the combination of this compound with vitamin E TPGS and poloxamer 407 can produce a synergistic effect to enhance tumor apoptosis and P-glycoprotein inhibition. This study aimed to develop and optimize vitamin E TPGS/Poloxamer 407 micelles loaded with luteolin through investigating certain factors that can affect the encapsulation efficiency and particle size of the micelle.

METHODS

A micelle was prepared using the film hydration method, and the micellar solution was lyophilized. The cake formed was analyzed. The factors investigated include the concentrations of the surfactants, ratio of vitamin E TPGS/Poloxamer 407, temperature of the hydrating solution, duration of hydration, and freezing temperature before lyophilization. The effects of these factors on the encapsulation efficiency and particle size of the micelle were also studied. The encapsulation efficiency was measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, while particle size was measured using dynamic light scattering.

RESULTS

The optimized micelle was found to have 90% encapsulation efficiency with a particle size of less than 40 nm, which was achieved using a 10% concentration of surfactants at a vitamin E TPGS/Poloxamer 407 ratio of 3:1. The optimized temperature for hydrating the micellar film was 40 °C, the optimized mixing time was 1 h, and the optimized freezing temperature was -80 °C. The solubility of the luteolin-loaded micelles increased 459-fold compared to pure Lut in water. The critical micelle concentration of the vitamin E TPGS/Poloxamer 407 micelle was 0.001 mg/mL, and the release study showed that luteolin-loaded micelles exhibited sustained release behavior. The release of luteolin from a micelle was found to be higher in pH 6.8 compared to pH 7.4, which signified that luteolin could be accumulated more in a tumor microenvironment compared to blood.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that several factors need to be considered when developing such nanoparticles in order to obtain a well-optimized micelle.

Self-Assessment of INTERHEART Risk Stratification among the Middle-Aged Community in Malaysia

Research background and Objectives: Age is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but CVD risk factors are preventable, and lack of awareness of its risk factors is a contributing factor to CVDs. Middle-aged people may be more likely to engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviours which can increase the risk of CVD. Health self-assessment is crucial for early detection and management of health issues and early lifestyle intervention for better personalised health management. This study aims to determine the self-assessment of INTERHEART risk classification among the middle-aged community in Malaysia. Method: Local community members aged 40-60 years and who are currently residing in Malaysia were recruited via non-randomised sampling. Sociodemographic characteristics and dietary pattern related to salt, fibre, fat (deep fried/snacks), poultry/meat intakes, and other cardiovascular risk factors (waist-hip ratio, medical history related to diabetes/hypertension, history/exposure of tobacco use, psychosocial status, and level of physical activity) were assessed; INTERHEART risk scores were then computed and stratified into low, medium and high risks. Results: Approximately 45% (n = 273/602) of middle-aged respondents in Malaysia are at moderate-to-high risk of cardiovascular events, with men being more likely to develop CVD compared to women. The results of the survey indicated that poultry/meat intake (61%), physical inactivity (59%), and second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure (54%) are the most prevalent risk factors among the respondents. One-third of the respondents consumed excessive salty food and deep fried foods/snacks/fast food, and only one-third of them consumed vegetables/fruits at a recommended level. It is worrying that about a quarter of the respondents felt several periodical/permanent stresses and even felt sad/blue/depressed for two weeks or more in a row. Males, labour workers, and those with lower educational levels are more likely to develop CVD events. Conclusions: This study found that 45% of the middle-aged respondents were having moderate-to-high risk for cardiovascular events with multiple risk factors related to unhealthy lifestyle habits and environmental factors. In addition to non-modifiable factors such as gender and age, sociodemographic factors, i.e., educational level and occupation, are equally important factors to determine CVD risk. Overall, the findings of this study emphasize the clinical relevance of assessing multiple factors in the determination of CVD risks for early prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases.

Cassia alata, Coriandrum sativum, Curcuma longa and Azadirachta indica: Food Ingredients as Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Atopic Dermatitis-A Comprehensive Review

Traditional medicine is critical in disease treatment and management. Herbs are gaining popularity for disease management and treatment. Therefore, they can be utilised as complementary and alternative treatment (CAT) ingredients. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the common non-communicable diseases. It is characterised by chronic inflammatory skin disease with intense pruritus and eczematous lesions. AD is associated with oxidative stress, microbial infection, and upregulation of inflammatory cytokines. Both children and adults could be affected by this skin disorder. The prevalence of AD is increasing along with the country’s level of development. This review revisited the literature on four medicinal herbs widely used as complementary medicine to manage AD. These therapeutic herbs are commonly eaten as food and used as spices in Asian cuisine. The four food herbs reviewed are Cassia alata, Coriandrum sativum, Curcuma longa Linn, and Azadirachta indica. Their traditional uses and phytochemical content will be covered. Four relevant pharmacological and biological activities of the plants crucial in AD management have been reviewed and discussed, including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant, and wound recovery.

Choices of chromatographic methods as stability indicating assays for pharmaceutical products: A review

Stability indicating assay describes a technique which is used to analyse the stability of drug substance or active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in bulk drug and pharmaceutical products. Stability indicating assay must be properly validated as per ICH guidelines. The important components in a stability indicating assay include sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, reliability, reproducibility and robustness. A validated assay is able to measure the concentration changes of drug substance/API with time and make reliable estimation of the quantity of the degradation impurities. The drug substance is separated and resolved from the impurities. Pros and cons of HPLC, GC, HPTLC, CE and SFC were discussed and reviewed. Stability indicating assay may consist of the combination of chromatographic separation and spectroscopic detection techniques. Hyphenated system could demonstrate parallel quantitative and qualitative analysis of drug substances and impurities. Examples are HPLC-DAD, HPLC-FL, GC-MS, LC-MS and LC-NMR. The analytes in the samples are separated in the chromatography while the impurities are chemically characterised by the spectroscopy in the system. In this review, various chromatographic methods which had been employed as stability indicating assays for drug substance and pharmaceutical formulation were systematically reviewed, and the application of hyphenated techniques in impurities characterisation and identification were also discussed with supporting literatures.

Renal dysfunction in workers exposed to inorganic lead

INTRODUCTION

We studied the relationship between renal dysfunction and occupational lead exposure in a local factory.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study with a cohort component was conducted with 55 male workers of a factory producing PVC stabilisers as subjects. Workers from this factory have been followed up with 6-monthly blood lead measurements since 1982. Two indices of overall lead exposure, i.e. the number of times a worker's blood lead exceeded 40 micrograms/dL (PbB40) and cumulative blood lead index (PbBint), were obtained from this data. Recent blood lead concentration (PbB) was measured. 4-hour creatinine clearance and various other urinary and serum markers of renal dysfunction were used as effect indices.

RESULTS

There was no relationship between PbB and any of the renal markers. However, creatinine clearance decreased significantly (P < 0.001) with increasing PbB40 and PbBint after adjustment for age and smoking habits. Urinary albumin (Ualb), urinary alpha-1 microglobulin (U alpha 1m), urinary beta-2 microglobulin (U beta 2m) and urinary retinol-binding protein (URBP) increased significantly with both increasing PbB40 and PbBint. Total urinary activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG-T) and its heat-stable isoenzyme (NAG-B) increased significantly with increasing PbB40. A significant difference in renal parameters occurred when PbB40 was 1 or more.

CONCLUSIONS

We have found a positive association between overall lead exposure and renal dysfunction. The renal parameters were significantly higher among those who had at least one episode of blood lead above 40 micrograms/dL. Our findings also strengthen the case for the use of Ualb, U alpha 1m, U beta 2m, URBP, NAG-T and NAG-B as early markers of lead nephropathy.