Highly-porous mannitol particle production using a new templating approach

The Fabrication, Drug Loading, and Release Behavior of Porous Mannitol

Porous materials are widely used as an effective strategy for the solubilization of insoluble drugs. In order to improve the solubility and bioavailability of low water-solubility drugs, it is necessary to prepare porous materials. Mannitol is one of the most popular excipients in food and drug formulations. In this study, porous mannitol was investigated as a drug carrier for low water solubility drugs. Its fabrication, drug loading, and drug release mechanisms were investigated. Porous mannitol was fabricated using the co-spray-antisolvent process and utilizing polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVP K30) as the template agent. Porous mannitol particles were prepared by changing the proportion of the template agent, spraying the particles with mannitol, and eluting with ethanol in order to regulate their pore structure. In subsequent studies, porous mannitol morphology and characteristics were determined systematically. Furthermore, curcumin and ibuprofen, two poorly water-soluble drugs, were loaded into porous mannitol, and their release profiles were analyzed. The results of the study indicated that porous mannitol can be prepared using PVP K30 as a template and that the amount of template agent can be adjusted in order to control the structure of the porous mannitol. When the template agent was added in amounts of 1%, 3%, and 5%, the mannitol pore size increased by 167.80%, 95.16%, and 163.98%, respectively, compared to raw mannitol. Molecular docking revealed that mannitol and drugs are adsorbents and adhere to each other by force interaction. The cumulative dissolution of curcumin and ibuprofen-loaded porous mannitol reached 69% and 70%, respectively. The release mechanism of curcumin and ibuprofen from drug-loaded mannitol was suitable for the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model. In summary, the co-spray-antisolvent method proved effective in fabricating porous materials rapidly, and porous mannitol had a remarkable effect on drug solubilization. The results obtained are conducive to the development of porous materials.

Rational Design and Development of a Soluble Mesoporous Carrier for the Solidification of a Preconcentrated Self-Nanoemulsion Formulation

The solidification of self-preconcentrated nanoemulsion without changes in nanodroplet formation gains particular consideration due to the interaction between solidified carriers. This work aimed to develop mannitol mesoporous as a soluble carrier for supersaturated self-nanoemulsion (SSNE) using a design of experiment (DoE) approach. The mesoporous carrier was prepared by a spray-drying technique. The type of templating agent (TA) used to form a porous system, the amount of TA, and solid loading in the spray-drying process were studied. Several characterizations were performed for mannitol mesoporous formation, namely, powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and surface area analyzer. Solidification of SSNE incorporated into the mesoporous mannitol was carried out, followed by compaction behavior, flowability, and nanodroplet formation. The results revealed several process parameters for preparing the mesoporous mannitol, notably TA, which gained more significant consideration. Solid loading in the mesoporous preparation system reduced the surface area and pore size and did not affect solid SSNE flowability. The amount of TA increased the pore size and volume dramatically as well as the compactibility and flowability. Ammonium carbonate was the preferable TA for preparing the mesoporous carrier, particularly for the nanodroplet formulation process. In addition, synergistic and antagonistic interactions between factors were also observed. The optimized mesoporous carrier was applied for solidification, and there was no difference between SSNE and solid SSNE in the performance of nanodroplet formation.

Surface Modifiers on Composite Particles for Direct Compaction

Direct compaction (DC) is considered to be the most effective method of tablet production. However, only a small number of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can be successfully manufactured into tablets using DC since most APIs lack adequate functional properties to meet DC requirements. The use of suitable modifiers and appropriate co-processing technologies can provide a promising approach for the preparation of composite particles with high functional properties. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview and classification of different modifiers and their multiple combinations that may improve API tableting properties or prepare composite excipients with appropriate co-processed technology, as well as discuss the corresponding modification mechanism. Moreover, it provides solutions for selecting appropriate modifiers and co-processing technologies to prepare composite particles with improved properties.

Resveratrol Nanocrystal Incorporated into Mesoporous Material: Rational Design and Screening through Quality-by-Design Approach

Bioflavonoids from grape seeds feature powerful antioxidant and immunostimulant activities, but they present problems related to solubility and bioavailability. Nanocrystal (NC) incorporated into a mesoporous carrier is a promising strategy to address these issues. However, the preparation of this formulation involves the selection of factors affecting its critical quality attributes. Hence, this study aimed to develop an NC formulation incorporating resveratrol into a soluble mesoporous carrier based on rational screening design using a systematic and continuous development process, the quality-by-design paradigm. A mesoporous soluble carrier was prepared by spray-drying mannitol and ammonium carbonate. The NC was obtained by introducing the evaporated solvent containing a drug/polymer/surfactant and mesoporous carrier to the medium. A 2^6-2 fractional factorial design (FFD) approach was carried out in the screening process to understand the main effect factors. The type and concentration of polymer and surfactant, resveratrol loading, and solvent were determined on the NC characteristics. The results indicated that drug loading, particle size, and solubility were mainly affected by RSV loading, PEG concentration, and Kolliphor EL concentration. The polymer contributed dominantly to reducing the particle size and enhancing solubility in this screening design. The presence of surfactants in this system made it possible to prolong the supersaturation process. According to the 2^6-2 FFD, the factors selected to be further developed using a statistical technique according to the quality-by design-approach, Box Behnken Design, were Kolliphor EL, PEG400, and RSV loading.

Spray-dried fucoidan microparticles for pulmonary delivery of antitubercular drugs

Pulmonary tuberculosis accounts for 80% of cases and the delivery of antitubercular drugs into the lungs allows targeting the infected organ and, possibly, reducing systemic drug toxicity. This work aimed at using fucoidan as matrix of inhalable microparticles that associate two first-line antitubercular drugs, for an application in pulmonary tuberculosis therapy. Fucoidan is composed of fucose and sulphated sugar residues, moieties described as being recognised by surface receptors of alveolar macrophages, which host mycobacteria. Inhalable fucoidan microparticles loaded with antitubercular drugs were successfully produced with high association efficiencies of either isoniazid (95%) or rifabutin (81%). The microparticles evidenced no cytotoxicity on lung epithelial cells (A549). However, rifabutin-loaded microparticles showed a certain degree of toxicity on macrophage-like cells (THP-1) at the highest tested concentration (1 mg/mL). Furthermore, microparticles showed favourable aerodynamic properties for deep lung delivery (MMAD 2.0-3.8 µm) and, thus, show potential for an application as inhalable tuberculosis therapy.

Design and pharmaceutical applications of porous particles

Porous particles have been developed as a novel carrier to improve drug delivery, dissolution, tableting, and so on, which can be prepared by many methods.