Different types, applications and limits of enabling excipients of pharmaceutical dosage forms

Another Move towards Bicalutamide Dissolution and Permeability Improvement with Acetylated β-Cyclodextrin Solid Dispersion

The complex formation of antiandrogen bicalutamide (BCL) with methylated (Me-β-CD) and acetylated (Ac-β-CD) β-cyclodextrins was investigated in buffer solution pH 6.8. A two-fold strongly binding of BCL to Ac-β-CD as compared to Me-β-CD was revealed. The solid dispersion of BCL with Ac-β-CD was prepared by the mechanical grinding procedure to obtain the complex in the solid state. The BCL/Ac-β-CD complex was characterized by DSC, XPRD, FTIR, and SEM techniques. The effect of Ac-β-CD in the BCL solid dispersions on the non-sink dissolution/permeation simultaneous processes was disclosed using the side-by-side diffusion cell with the help of the cellulose membrane. The elevated dissolution of the ground complex, as compared to the raw drug as well as the simple physical mixture, accompanied by the supersaturation was revealed. Two biopolymers—polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, M_n = 58,000) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC, M_n ~ 10,000)—were examined as the precipitation inhibitors and were shown to be useful in prolonging the supersaturation state. The BCL/Ac-β-CD complex has the fastest dissolution rate in the presence of HPMC. The maximal concentration of the complex was achieved at a time of 20, 30, and 90 min in the pure buffer, with PVP and with HPMC, respectively. The effectiveness of the BCL dissolution (release) processes (illustrated by the AUCC(t) parameter) was estimated to be 7.8-, 5.8-, 3.0-, and 1.8-fold higher for BCL/Ac-β-CD (HPMC), BCL/Ac-β-CD (PVP), BCL/Ac-β-CD (buffer), and the BCL/Ac-β-CD physical mixture, respectively, as compared to the BCL_raw sample. The excipient gain factor (EGF), calculated for the dissolution of the BCL complex, was shown to be 2.6 in the presence of HPMC, which is 1.3-fold greater as compared to PVP. From the experimental dissolution results, it can be concluded that the formation of BCL ground complex with Ac-β-CD enhances the dissolution rate of the compound. The permeation was also shown to be advantageous in the presence of the polymers, which was demonstrated by the elevated fluxes of BCL through the membrane. The comparison of the dissolution/permeation processes was illustrated and discussed. The conclusion was made that the presence of HPMC as a stabilizer of the supersaturation state is promising and seems to be a useful tool for the optimization of BCL pharmaceutical formulations manufacturing.

Microbes, Clinical trials, Drug Discovery, and Vaccine Development: The Current Perspectives

Because of the frequent emergence of novel microbial species and the re-emergence of genetic variants of hitherto known microbes, the global healthcare system, and human health has been thrown into jeopardy. Also, certain microbes that possess the ability to develop multi-drug resistance (MDR) have limited the treatment options in cases of serious infections, and increased hospital and treatment costs, and associated morbidity and mortality. The recent discovery of the novel Coronavirus (n-CoV), the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that is causing the CoV Disease-19 (COVID-19) has resulted in severe morbidity and mortality throughout the world affecting normal human lives. The major concern with the current pandemic is the non-availability of specific drugs and an incomplete understanding of the pathobiology of the virus. It is therefore important for pharmaceutical establishments to envisage the discovery of therapeutic interventions and potential vaccines against the novel and MDR microbes. Therefore, this review is attempted to update and explore the current perspectives in microbes, clinical research, drug discovery, and vaccine development to effectively combat the emerging novel and re-emerging genetic variants of microbes.

Interaction of Commonly Used Oral Molecular Excipients with P-glycoprotein

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) plays a critical role in drug oral bioavailability, and modulation of this transporter can alter the safety and/or efficacy profile of substrate drugs. Individual oral molecular excipients that inhibit P-gp function have been considered a mechanism for improving drug absorption, but a systematic evaluation of the interaction of excipients with P-gp is critical for informed selection of optimal formulations of proprietary and generic drug products. A library of 123 oral molecular excipients was screened for their ability to inhibit P-gp in two orthogonal cell-based assays. β-Cyclodextrin and light green SF yellowish were identified as modest inhibitors of P-gp with IC₅₀ values of 168 μM (95% CI, 118-251 μM) and 204 μM (95% CI, 5.9-1745 μM), respectively. The lack of effect of most of the tested excipients on P-gp transport provides a wide selection of excipients for inclusion in oral formulations with minimal risk of influencing the oral bioavailability of P-gp substrates.

Quality by Design Based Formulation Study of Meloxicam-Loaded Polymeric Micelles for Intranasal Administration

Our study aimed to develop an “ex tempore” reconstitutable, viscosity enhancer- and preservative-free meloxicam (MEL)-loaded polymeric micelle formulation, via Quality by Design (QbD) approach, exploiting the nose-to-brain pathway, as a suitable tool in the treatment of neuroinflammation. The anti-neuroinflammatory effect of nose-to-brain NSAID polymeric micelles was not studied previously, therefore its investigation is promising. Critical product parameters, encapsulation efficiency (89.4%), Z-average (101.22 ± 2.8 nm) and polydispersity index (0.149 ± 0.7) and zeta potential (−25.2 ± 0.4 mV) met the requirements of the intranasal drug delivery system (nanoDDS) and the targeted profile liquid formulation was transformed into a solid preservative-free product by freeze-drying. The viscosity (32.5 ± 0.28 mPas) and hypotonic osmolality (240 mOsmol/L) of the reconstituted formulation provides proper and enhanced absorption and probably guarantees the administration of the liquid dosage form (nasal drop and spray). The developed formulation resulted in more than 20 times faster MEL dissolution rate and five-fold higher nasal permeability compared to starting MEL. The prediction of IVIVC confirmed the great potential for in vivo brain distribution of MEL. The nose-to-brain delivery of NSAIDs such as MEL by means of nanoDDS as polymeric micelles offers an innovative opportunity to treat neuroinflammation more effectively.