Porous Oral Drug Delivery System: Tablets

Type A gelatin-amidated low methoxyl pectin complex coacervates for probiotics protection: Formation, characterization, and viability

This work developed and characterized the physicochemical properties of a type A gelatin and amidated low-methoxyl pectin complex coacervate (GA-LMAP-CC) hydrogel and evaluated its suitability for preserving the viability of probiotics under in vitro gastrointestinal conditions. The formation of GA-LMAP-CC was achieved via height electrostatic attraction at pH 3 and a mixing ratio of 1, exhibiting thermoreversible gel behavior. The hydrogel had a porosity of 44% and a water absorption capacity of up to 12 times. Water absorption profiles were obtained at different pH values (2, 5, and 7). The influence of GA-LMAP-CC depended on the medium, which controlled the hydration and water absorption rate. GA-LMAP-CC promoted the viability of B. longum BB536 and L. acidophilus strains under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, thereby enhancing their potential for intestinal colonization. The hydrogel has suitable properties for potential application in food and pharmaceutical areas to encapsulate and preserve probiotics.

Study on Improving the Performance of Traditional Medicine Extracts with High Drug Loading Based on Co-spray Drying Technology

The purpose of this study is to develop modified particles with different structures to improve the flowability and compactibility of Liuwei Dihuang (LWDH) powder using co-spray drying technology, and to investigate the preparation mechanism of modified particles and their modified direct compaction (DC) properties. Moreover, tablets with high drug loading contents were also prepared. Particles were designed using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K30) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC E3) as shell materials, and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and ammonium bicarbonate (NH4HCO3) as pore-forming agents. The porous particles (Ps), core-shell particles (CPs), and porous core-shell particles (PCPs) were prepared by co-spray drying technology. The key DC properties and texture properties of all the particles were measured and compared. The properties of co-spray drying liquid were also determined and analyzed. According to the results, Ps showed the least improvement in DC properties, followed by CPs, and PCPs showed a significant improvement. The modifier, because of its low surface tension, was wrapped in the outer layer to form a shell, and the pore-forming agent was thermally decomposed to produce pores, forming core-shell, porous, and porous core-shell composite structures. The smooth surface of the shell structure enhances fluidity, while the porous structure allows for greater compaction space, thereby improving DC properties during the compaction process.

Exploring the role of mesoporous silica nanoparticle in the development of novel drug delivery systems

The biocompatible nature of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) attracted researchers' attention to deliver therapeutic agents in the treatment of various diseases, where their porous nature, high drug loading efficiency, and suitability to functionalize with a specific ligand of MSN helped to obtain the desired outcome. The application of MSN has been extended to deliver small chemicals to large-sized peptides or proteins to fight against complex diseases. Recently, formulation researches with MSN have been progressed for various non-conventional drug delivery systems, including liposome, microsphere, oro-dispersible film, 3D-printed formulation, and microneedle. Low bulk density, retaining mesoporous structure during downstream processing, and lack of sufficient in vivo studies are some of the important issues towards the success of mesoporous silica-based advanced drug delivery systems. The present review has aimed to evaluate the application of MSN in advanced drug delivery systems to critically analyze the role of MSN in the respective formulation over other functionalized polymers. Finally, an outlook on the future direction of MSN-based advanced drug delivery systems has been drawn against the existing challenges with this platform.