Comparative bioavailability study of cefixime (equivalent to 100 mg/5 ml) suspension (Winex vs Suprax) in healthy male volunteers

This investigation was carried out to evaluate the bioavailability of a new suspension formulation of cefixime (100 mg/5 ml), Winex, relative to the reference product, Suprax (100 mg/5 ml) suspension. The bio-availability study was carried out in 24 healthy male volunteers who received a single oral dose (200 mg) of the test (A) and the reference (B) products on 2 treatment days after an overnight fast of at least 10 hours. The treatment periods were separated by a one-week washout period. A randomized, balanced two-way crossover design was used. After dosing, serial blood samples were collected over a period of 16 hours. Plasma concentrations of cefixime were analyzed using a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic assay. The pharmacokinetic parameters for cefixime were determined using standard non-compartmental method. The parameters AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), Cmax, Kel, t1/2 and Cmax/AUC(0-infinity) were analyzed statistically using raw and log-transformed data. The time to maximum concentration (tmax) was analyzed using raw data. The parametric 90% confidence intervals of the mean values of the pnfinity harmacokinetic parameters: AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity) Cmax, and Cmax/AUC(0-infinity) were within the range 80 - 125% which is acceptable for bioequivalence (using log-transformed data). The calculated 90% confidence intervals based on the ANOVA analysis for the mean test/reference ratios of AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), Cmax, and Cmax/AUC(0-infinity) were 88.93 - 107.10%, 89.09 - 107.11%, 89.63 - 108.58% and 96.85 - 105.29%, respectively. The test formulation was found bioequivalent to the reference formulation with regard to AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), and Cmax using the Schuirmann's two one-sided t-tests. Therefore, the two formulations were considered to be bioequivalent.

Proniosomes as a drug carrier for transdermal delivery of ketorolac

Niosomes are nonionic surfactant vesicles that have potential applications in the delivery of hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. Permeation of a potent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, ketorolac, across excised rabbit skin from various proniosome gel formulations was investigated using Franz diffusion cells. Each of the prepared proniosomes significantly improved drug permeation and reduced the lag time (P<0.05). Proniosomes prepared with Span 60 provided a higher ketorolac flux across the skin than did those prepared with Tween 20 (7- and 4-fold the control, respectively). A change in the cholesterol content did not affect the efficiency of the proniosomes, and the reduction in the lecithin content did not significantly decrease the flux (P>0.05). The encapsulation efficiency and size of niosomal vesicles formed by proniosome hydration were also characterized by specific high performance liquid chromatography method and scanning electron microscopy. Each of the prepared niosomes achieved about 99% drug encapsulation. Vesicle size was markedly dependent on the composition of the proniosomal formulations. Proniosomes may be a promising carrier for ketorolac and other drugs, especially due to their simple production and facile up.

Comparative bioavailability study of doxycycline hyclate (equivalent to 100 mg doxycycline) capsules (doxycin vs vibramycin) for bioequivalence evaluation in healthy adult volunteers

This investigation was carried out to evaluate the bioavailability of a new capsule formulation of doxycycline (100 mg), doxycin, relative to the reference product, vibramycin (100 mg) capsules. The bioavailability was carried out in 24 healthy male volunteers who received a single dose (100 mg) of the test (A) and the reference (B) products after an overnight fast of at least 10 hours on 2 treatment days. The treatment periods were separated by a 2-week washout period. A randomized, balanced 2-way cross-over design was used. After dosing, serial blood samples were collected for a period of 48 hours. Plasma concentrations of doxycycline were analyzed by a sensitive and validated high-performance liquid chromatography assay. The pharmacokinetic parameters for doxycycline were determined using standard noncompartmental methods. The parameters AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), Cmax, K(el), t(1/2) and Cmax/AUC(0-infinity) were analyzed statistically using log-transformed data. The time to maximum concentration (tmax) was analyzed using raw data. The parametric 90% confidence intervals of the mean values of the pharmacokinetic parameters: AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), Cmax and Cmax/AUC(0-infinity) were within the range 80-125% which is acceptable for bioequivalence (using log-transformed data). The calculated 90% confidence intervals based on the ANOVA analysis of the mean test/reference ratios of AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), Cmax and Cmax/AUC(0-infinity) were 95.98-109.56%, 92.21 to 107.66%, 93.90-112.56%, and 96.0 to 106.91% respectively. The test formulation was found bioequivalent to the reference formulation with regard to AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), Cmax and Cmax/AUC(0-infinity) by the Schuirmann's two 1-sided t-tests. Therefore, the 2 formulations were considered to be bioequivalent.

Validated liquid chromatographic determination of 5-fluorouracil in human plasma

A sensitive, reproducible, selective and accurate high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the quantitative determination of 5-flurorouracil in plasma has been developed and validated using isocratic elution and UV detection. The method provides a selective quantifications of 5-flurorouracil without any interference of the endogenous uracil. The assay is performed after a double extraction of 5-flurorouracil and thymine (internal standard) from human plasma using ethyl acetate. The drug and the internal standard were eluted from a Genesis C(18) analytical column at ambient temperature with mobile phase consisting of methanol:water (10:90, v/v) adjusted to pH 3.2 with perchloric acid at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The effluent was monitored with an ultraviolet detector at 260 nm. Quantification was achieved by the measurement of the peak-height ratios and the limit of quantification for 5-flurorouracil in plasma was 30 ng/ml. The retention times for 5-flurorouracil, uracil, and thymine were 4.5, 6.0, and 9.0, respectively. The intra-day coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 1.35 to 4.53% at three different concentrations and the inter-day CVs varied from 1.29 to 4.98%. The relative and absolute recoveries varied from 96 to 101%. Stability tests showed that 5-flurorouracil is stable for at least 72 h in plasma after freezing. The simple method may permit the assessment of 5-flurorouracil plasma concentrations for pharmacokinetic studies in combination with clinical trials.

Evaluation of crosslinked chitosan hydrogel beads as a carrier for prolonged delivery of diclofenac sodium: in vitro and in vivo studies

Chitosan hydrogel beads containing diclofanac sodium were prepared using ionotropic gelation technique in which tripolyphosphate solution was used as a counterion. Chitosan molecular weight, tripolyphosphate concentration and crosslinking time were found to have an effect on the percentage of the drug loading. The loading efficiency of diclofenac sodium was very high (more than 90%). A longer-period of contact with the counterion ions decreased the efficiency of drug loading. The beads produced all had good spherical geometry. The beads showed a narrow size distribution in which 95% of the beads prepared were in the range of 2-3 mm. Comparison of release rate-time plots of dissolution data of marketed product with the newly developed dosage form indicated the ability of the later to sustain more diclofenac sodium release. The beads were evaluated for their bioavailability in six beagle dogs relative to the commercial enteric-coated Voltaren tablets. The in vivo availability study, reveled that the prepared beads filled in hard gelatin capsules had a 126.22% bioavailability relative to that of the commercial Voltaren tablets. The beads showed comparable pharmacokinetic parameters to that of the commercial tablets. The results suggested the possibility of producing a promising sustained drug delivery system for diclofenac sodium.

Effects of preparative parameters on the properties of chitosan hydrogel beads containing Candida rugosa lipase

The influences of the pH, tripolyphosphate (TPP) concentration, and ionic strength of the gelling medium on the entrapment efficiency, release, and activity of lipase in chitosan hydrogel beads were studied. A solution of Candida rugosa lipase was prepared in a 1.5% w/v chitosan and 1% (v/v) acetic acid medium, and dropped into a TPP solution. Release of lipase in pH 7.2 Tris buffer was monitored over 36 h using the micro BCA protein assay. The activity of the entrapped enzyme was assayed using the Sigma lipase activity method. Following preliminary studies, an experimental design was followed to develop mathematical models that describe bead characteristics as functions of the pH and the TPP concentration in the gelling medium. The pH and the TPP concentration each had an effect on the entrapment, retention, and activity of lipase. Entrapped lipase retained a high degree of activity in multiple reactions. The ionic strength, in the range studied, exerted a minimal effect on bead characteristics. Statistical analysis allowed optimization within the factor space with respect to maximizing the enzyme entrapment efficiency and activity, and also minimizing the amount released after 36 h in the Tris buffer.

Molecular weight and degree of deacetylation effects on lipase-loaded chitosan bead characteristics

The effects of the molecular weight (MW) and degree of deacetylation (DD) of chitosan on chitosan hydrogel beads were characterized, and the entrapment efficiency, release of entrapped lipase, and activity of immobilized Candida rugosa lipase were investigated. Fresh and freeze-dried beads were characterized. A solution of lipase was prepared in a 1.5% (w/v) chitosan and 1% (v/v) acetic acid medium, and then dropped into a tripolyphosphate solution to prepare the beads. The release studies were performed over 36 h. The enzyme activity was assayed using the Sigma lipase activity method. Chitosan with high MW and DD resulted in a higher loading. A lower activity was observed for beads produced with high DD chitosan. MW did not have a marked effect on the activity. The release study revealed that enzyme release increased to a maximum when the bead was manufactured with a low MW and a moderate to high DD chitosan sample. Freeze drying did not affect the release or the activity of the lipase. Chitosan with a high MW and DD can thus improve loading and reduce the release of lipase in these beads. The choice of chitosan can affect the activity normalized for lipase loading, and beads with desirable qualities can be produced.

An in vitro evaluation of a chitosan-containing multiparticulate system for macromolecule delivery to the colon

A multiparticulate system of chitosan hydrogel beads has been investigated for colon-specific delivery of macromolecules using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled bovine serum albumin as a model protein. The hydrogel bead was formed by polyelectrolyte complexation of chitosan with its counterion, tripolyphosphate (TPP). The protein release experiments were carried out in vitro under different conditions to simulate the pH and times likely to be encountered during intestinal transit to the colon. The results show that the hydrogel beads were degraded by rat cecal and colonic enzymes, resulting in a marked acceleration in the release of protein. The ability of rat cecal and colonic enzymes to degrade chitosan hydrogel beads was independent of pretreatment conditions. A commercial beta-glucosidase preparation containing a chitinase did not have a similar effect on the chitosan bead, even though it has been found to mimic the degradation function of rat cecal and colonic enzymes in vitro for chitosan in solution. Degradation of the chitosan-TPP hydrogel beads in the presence of rat cecal and colonic enzymes indicates the potential of this multiparticulate system to serve as a carrier to deliver macromolecules specifically to the colon.