A review of selected investigational nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs of the 1980s

Factors That Influence Sustained Release from Hot-Melt Extrudates

Hot-melt extrusion is a well-established tool in the pharmaceutical industry, mostly implemented to increase the solubility of poorly soluble drugs. A less frequent application of this technique is to obtain formulations with extended release. This study investigated the influence of polymer choice, drug loading, milling and hydrodynamics on the release of a model drug, flurbiprofen, from sustained-release hot-melt extrudates with Eudragit polymers. The choice of polymer and degree of particle size reduction of the extrudate by milling were the two key influences on the release profile: the percentage release after 12 h varied from 6% (2 mm threads) to 84% (particle size <125 µm) for Eudragit RL extrudates vs. 4.5 to 62% for the corresponding Eudragit RS extrudates. By contrast, the release profile was largely independent of drug loading and robust to hydrodynamics in the dissolution vessel. Thus, hot-melt extrusion offers the ability to tailor the release of the API to the therapeutic indication through a combination of particle size and polymer choice while providing robustness over a wide range of hydrodynamic conditions.

Recent Advances on Quinazoline Derivatives: A Potential Bioactive Scaffold in Medicinal Chemistry

This paper intended to explore and discover recent therapeutic agents in the area of medicinal chemistry for the treatment of various diseases. Heterocyclic compounds represent an important group of biologically active compounds. In the last few years, heterocyclic compounds having quinazoline moiety have drawn immense attention owing to their significant biological activities. A diverse range of molecules having quinazoline moiety are reported to show a broad range of medicinal activities like antifungal, antiviral, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant and other activities. This study accelerates the designing process to generate a greater number of biologically active candidates.

Iontophoresis driven concentrations of topically administered diclofenac in skeletal muscle and blood of healthy subjects

PURPOSE

The present open single-centre, descriptive and comparative pharmacokinetic study aimed to investigate the efficacy of iontophoresis to enhance transdermal delivery by measuring concentration vs. time profiles of diclofenac in local tissue and in plasma in two separate study periods.

METHODS

Period 1 determined diclofenac concentrations in both calf muscles simultaneously by using microdialysis after applying diclofenac gel topically as a single dose of 5 g with or without iontophoresis in eight healthy volunteers. In period 2, the same dose was applied to another 8 volunteers to determine plasma concentrations of diclofenac either with or without iontophoresis in a cross over design.

RESULTS

In period 1, tissue concentrations were found to be under the limit of detection of 0.5 ng/ml both with and without iontophoresis in all subjects. In period 2, after iontophoresis in 75% of study participants, plasma concentrations of diclofenac could be determined, but only in 25% without iontophoresis. Although area under the concentration-time-curve (AUC, 187.97 ± 315.92 vs. 22.92 ± 42.44 ng*min/ml) and maximum concentration (Cmax, 2.06 ± 3.79 vs. 0.22 ± 0.41 ng/ml) values showed a numerically clear trend for higher values with iontophoresis compared to passive diffusion, no significant difference could be found due to high inter-individual variability. In total, 18.75% of all subjects presented adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a higher percentage of subjects showed detectable plasma levels of diclofenac after iontophoresis, iontophoresis failed to achieve potentially more effective topical concentrations. The typical mechanism of iontophoresis like electromigration, electroosmosis and increased subcutaneous circulation could be responsible for the results of the present observation. Additional clinical studies are needed to justify the transdermal delivery of diclofenac by using iontophoresis.

Scope and limitations of auxiliary-assisted, palladium-catalyzed arylation and alkylation of sp2 and sp3 C-H bonds

The scope of palladium-catalyzed, auxiliary-assisted direct arylation and alkylation of sp(2) and sp(3) C-H bonds of amine and carboxylic acid derivatives has been investigated. The method employs a palladium acetate catalyst, substrate, aryl, alkyl, benzyl, or allyl halide, and inorganic base in tert-amyl alcohol or water solvent at 100-140 °C. Aryl and alkyl iodides as well as benzyl and allyl bromides are competent reagents in this transformation. The picolinic acid auxiliary is used for amine γ-functionalization, and the 8-aminoquinoline auxiliary is used for carboxylic acid β-functionalization. Some optimization of base, additives, and solvent is required for achieving best results.

Osmotic flow through asymmetric membrane: a means for controlled delivery of drugs with varying solubility

A nondisintegrating, controlled release, asymmetric membrane capsular system of flurbiprofen was developed and evaluated for controlled release of the drug to overcome some of its side effects. Asymmetric membrane capsules were prepared using fabricated glass mold pins by phase inversion process. The effect of different formulation variables was studied based on 2(3) factorial design; namely, level of osmogen, membrane thickness, and level of pore former. Effects of polymer diffusibility and varying osmotic pressure on drug release were also studied. Membrane characterization by scanning electron microscopy showed an outer dense region with less pores and an inner porous region for the prepared asymmetric membrane. Differential scanning calorimetry studies showed no incompatibility between the drug and the excipients used in the study. In vitro release studies for all the prepared formulations were done (n = 6). Statistical test (Dunnett multiple comparison test) was applied for in vitro drug release at P > .05. The best formulation closely corresponded to the extra design checkpoint formulation by a similarity (f2) value of 92.94. The drug release was independent of pH but dependent on the osmotic pressure of the dissolution medium. The release kinetics followed the Higuchi model and the mechanism of release was Fickian diffusion.

A comparative study of controlled release matrix tablets of diclofenac sodium, ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, and theophylline

The need for controlled release formulations for diclofenac sodium, ciprofloxacin, and theophylline is well recognized. In our study, controlled release tablets of the three drugs were formulated by the matrix-embedding technique using ethyl cellulose as retardant. Tablets of all the drugs were of good physical quality with respect to appearance, drug content uniformity, hardness, weight variation, and friability. In vitro release rate studies showed that ethyl cellulose extended the release of the three drugs to 12 hr or more. Release patterns from formulations of the three drugs followed Higuchi's square root kinetics. At pH 6.8, the release rate was higher in all three drugs, probably due to increased solubility of the drugs and/or increased swelling of ethyl cellulose at the higher pH. The formulations were highly stable and possessed reproducible release kinetics across batches.

Influence of electrical and chemical factors on transdermal iontophoretic delivery of three diclofenac salts

The aim of this present study was to investigate the in vitro transdermal iontophoretic delivery of three diclofenac salts--diclofenac sodium (DFS), diclofenac potassium (DFP), and diclofenac diethylammonium (DFD). A series of physicochemical and electrical variables which might affect iontophoretic permeation of diclofenac salts was studied. Application of 0.3 mA/cm2 current density significantly increased the transdermal flux of diclofenac salts as compared to passive transport. The iontophoretic enhancement increased in the order of DFS>DFP>DFD. The permeability coefficient of diclofenac salts all decreased with increasing donor concentration during iontophoresis. The addition of buffer ions and salt ions such as NaCl, KCl, and C4H12ClN reduced the permeation of diclofenac salts due to competition. However, this effect was lesser for DFD than for DFS and DFP. Comparing the various application modes of iontophoresis, the discontinuous on/off mode showed lower but more constant flux than the continuous mode.

Enhanced efficacy by percutaneous absorption of piroxicam from the poloxamer gel in rats

The pharmacokinetics and anti-inflammatory activity of piroxicam from the poloxamer 407 gel were determined to investigate percutaneous absorption of piroxicam from poloxamer gels in rats. The poloxamer 407 gel containing 1% piroxicam showed significant inhibition of carragenin-induced rat foot swelling when compared to the control group. The extent of inhibition of swelling (%) showed a linear relationship with the logarithm of piroxicam dose within approximately 0.4-3.2 mg/kg. The enhancing effect of polyoxyethylene-2-oleyl ether, non-ionic surfactant on the percutaneous absorption of piroxicam from poloxamer 407 gel was evaluated in rats. The piroxicam gel containing polyoxyethylene-2-oleyl ether increaesd the relative bioavailability approximately 1.8-fold compared with the gel without enhancer. Percutaneous administration of piroxicam gel containing polyoxyethylene-2-oleyl ether to rats showed a relatively constant, sustained blood concentration with minimal fluctuation.

The amphiprotic character of azapropazone and its relevance to the gastric mucosa

Since most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) contain only one obvious ionisable group at physiological pH levels then they may be easily identified as having either acidic or basic character. Basic NSAIDs are simply non-acidic NSAIDs capable of accepting a proton within the physiological pH range. Within this range, however, a few NSAIDs contain two obvious ionisable groups, one acidic and the other basic. Such compounds should be described as amphiprotic, and include NSAIDs such as 4- and 5-amino substituted salicylic acids, niflumic acid, amfenac, WY 18251, and azapropazone. The aqueous ionisation equilibrium of such compounds is complex and is described by two macroscopic ionisation constants. Evidence has accumulated during the last decade to support the view that the pharmacokinetic behaviour of NSAIDs contributes not only decisively to their therapeutic effects but also to the type and incidence of their side-effects. A priori, using a physicochemical argument, certain amphiprotic NSAIDs should be better tolerated by the gastric mucosa than the classical acidic compound. Of those NSAIDs commercially available in the United Kingdom azapropazone remains the only one for which amphiprotic behaviour has been described. Following our examination of available data for azapropazone we conclude that the use of amphiprotic compounds represents a logical approach towards solving the problem of NSAID-induced gastric mucosal damage.

Pharmacokinetic interaction between flurbiprofen and antacids in healthy volunteers

Gastrointestinal distress resulting from drug intake is often remedied by administering the drug with antacids. However, antacids have been shown to modify the absorption and excretion of many drugs. This study was designed to delineate the effects of aluminium and magnesium hydroxide antacid suspension (Maalox) on the pharmacokinetics of flurbiprofen. Since this drug is often used in the elderly, not only young healthy but also geriatric healthy male volunteers participated in the study. A group of twelve young and a group of seven geriatric volunteers received, in a crossover design, a single oral dose of 100 mg of flurbiprofen with and without Maalox. A non-stereospecific assay was used to determine the total (R + S enantiomers) of flurbiprofen in plasma. The relative pharmacokinetic parameters of total flurbiprofen determined from plasma samples were Cmax, tmax, Kel, t1/2, and AUC infinity. The results indicate that the co-administration of Maalox with flurbiprofen had no effect on the rate and extent of total flurbiprofen absorption in young volunteers. In geriatric volunteers, the results indicate no effect of the antacid on the extent of drug absorption. There was a trend for lower plasma concentrations of total flurbiprofen with antacid in the geriatric group and hence a reduction in rate of flurbiprofen absorption although differences were not significant. The study also included a steady state determination of the influence of antacid administration on flurbiprofen pharmacokinetics. The group of young volunteers received, from Day 3 to Day 8, 100 mg of flurbiprofen every 12 h with and without Maalox.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effects of flurbiprofen, aspirin, cimetidine, and antacids on the gastric and duodenal mucosa of normal volunteers. An endoscopic and photographic study

This 7-day, single blind, randomized endoscopic tolerance study compared daily doses of 100, 150 and 200 mg flurbiprofen with 2600 mg aspirin. After seven days the flurbiprofen 100 and 150 mg groups had significantly less gastric irritation than the flurbiprofen 200 mg and aspirin groups. Flurbiprofen showed a linear dose-response relationship with respect to gastric injury and serum drug levels. Four subjects each on aspirin and flurbiprofen with the most severe injuries continued on their medications plus cimetidine and antacids for four more weeks. Both drug groups showed clinical improvement in the gastroduodenal area. In conclusion, flurbiprofen and aspirin therapy can be tolerated in the presence of gastroduodenal irritation by concomitantly administering cimetidine and antacids.