Ciprofloxacin self-dissolvable Soluplus based polymeric films: a novel proposal to improve the management of eye infections

Permeability of triamcinolone acetonide, released from mucoadhesive films, through a buccal mucosa-mimetic barrier: Permeapad™

OBJECTIVES

The permeability of triamcinolone acetonide (TA), from bilayer mucoadhesive buccal films, through a biomimetic membrane, Permeapad™, was investigated employing Franz diffusion cell. The delivery systems composition and ethyl cellulose (EC) backing layer, on drug permeability, were assessed.

METHODS

Three TA-loaded films were tested; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K4M; bilayer [F1] and monolayer), HPMC K4M/Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP): 90/10 [F2], and HPMC K15M film [F3]. All films contained propylene glycol (PG-plasticiser). TA solution alone was used as a control. TA permeability via a Permeapad™ barrier, simulating buccal mucosa, was assessed over 8 h using a Franz diffusion cell. TA permeated into the receptor compartment, released in the donor compartment, and located on/within the Permeapad™ barrier were analysed using UV-spectrophotometer.

RESULTS

45.7 % drug retention within the Permeapad™ barrier was delivered from F1 (highest). F1, F2, and F3 significantly improved the TA's permeability through Permeapad™, compared to TA solution alone (e.g., 8.5 % TA-solution, 21.5 %-F1), attributed to the synergy effect of HPMC and propylene glycol acting as penetration enhancers. F1 displayed a significant increase in drug permeability (receptor compartment; 21.5 %) compared to F3 (17.0 %). PVP significantly enhanced drug permeability (27.5 %). Impermeable EC backing layer controlled unidirectional drug release and reduced drug loss into the donor compartment (e.g., ∼28 % for monolayer film to ∼10 % for bilayer film, F1).

SIGNIFICANCE

The mucoadhesive films demonstrated improved TA permeability via Permeapad™. The findings suggest that these bilayer mucoadhesive films, particularly F1, hold promise for the effective topical treatment of oral mucosa disorders, such as recurrent aphthous stomatitis and oral lichen planus.

Transdermal Delivery of Glimepiride: A Novel Approach Using Nanomicelle-Embedded Microneedles

Glimepiride (GM) is a hydrophobic drug that dissolves slowly and yields inconsistent clinical responses after oral administration. Transdermal drug delivery (TDD) is an appropriate alternative to oral administration. Microneedles (MNs) offer a promising delivery system that penetrates the skin, while polymeric micelles can enhance the solubility; hence, the combination of both results in high drug bioavailability. This study aims to improve glimepiride's solubility, dissolution rate, and bioavailability by incorporating nanomicelles into MNs for TDD. The nanomicelles formulated with 10% Soluplus® (SP) and 40% GM had a mean particle size of 82.6 ± 0.54, PDI of 0.1 ± 0.01, -16.2 ± 0.18 zeta potential, and achieved a 250-fold increase in solubility. The fabricated pyramid shaped GM-dissolving MNs were thermally stable and had no formulation incompatibility, as confirmed by thermal and FTIR analysis. The in vitro dissolution profile revealed that the GM release from nanomicelles and nanomicelle-loaded DMN was concentration-independent following non-Fickian transport mechanism. Improved pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained with dose of 240 µg as compared to 1 mg of GM oral tablet, in healthy human volunteers. The observed Cmax, Tmax and MRT were 1.56 μg/mL ± 0.06, 4 h, and 40.04 h ± 3.37, respectively. The safety profile assessment indicated that microneedles are safe with no adverse effects on skin or health. This study provides an alternative delivery system for the administration of glimepiride, resulting in improved bioavailability, enhanced patient compliance, and reduced dosing frequency.

Skin drug delivery using lipid vesicles: A starting guideline for their development

Lipid vesicles can provide a cost-effective enhancement of skin drug absorption when vesicle production process is optimised. It is an important challenge to design the ideal vesicle, since their properties and features are related, as changes in one affect the others. Here, we review the main components, preparation and characterization methods commonly used, and the key properties that lead to highly efficient vesicles for transdermal drug delivery purposes. We stand by size, deformability degree and drug loading, as the most important vesicle features that determine the further transdermal drug absorption. The interest in this technology is increasing, as demonstrated by the exponential growth of publications on the topic. Although long-term preservation and scalability issues have limited the commercialization of lipid vesicle products, freeze-drying and modern escalation methods overcome these difficulties, thus predicting a higher use of these technologies in the market and clinical practice.

How to Improve Solubility and Dissolution of Irbesartan by Fabricating Ternary Solid Dispersions: Optimization and In-Vitro Characterization

The purpose of this study is to improve the solubility and dissolution of a poorly soluble drug, Irbesartan, using solid dispersion techniques. For that purpose, different polymers such as Soluplus^®, Kollidon^® VA 64, Kolliphor^® P 407, and Polyinylpyrrolidone (PVP-K30) were used as carriers at different concentrations to prepare solid dispersion formulations through the solvent evaporation method. In order to prepare binary dispersion formulations, Soluplus^® and Kollidon^® VA 64 were used at drug: polymer ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 (w/w). Saturation solubility of the drug in the presence of used carriers was performed to investigate the quantitative increase in solubility. Dissolution studies were performed to explore the drug release behavior from the prepared dispersions. Additionally, the characterization of the prepared formulations was carried out by performing DSC, SEM, XRD, and FTIR studies. The results revealed that among binary systems, K₄ formulation (Drug: Kollidon^® VA 64 at ratio of 1:4 w/w) exhibited optimal performance in terms of increased solubility, drug release, and other investigated parameters. Furthermore, ternary dispersion formulations of the optimized binary formulation were prepared with two more polymers, Kolliphor^® P 407 and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-K30), at (Drug: Kollidon^® VA 64:ternary polymer) ratios of 1:4:1, 1:4:2, and 1:4:3 (w/w). The results showed that KPVP (TD₃) exhibited the highest increase in solubility, as well as dissolution rate, among ternary solid dispersion formulations. Results of solubility enhancement by ternary solid dispersion formulations were also supported by FTIR, DSC, XRD, and SEM analysis. Conclusively, it was found that the ternary solid dispersion-based systems were more effective compared to the binary combinations in improving solubility as well as dissolution of a poorly soluble drug (Irbesartan).