Development and evaluation of an omeprazole-based delayed-release liquid oral dosage form

Indomethacin-omeprazole as therapeutic hybrids? Salt and co-amorphous systems enhancing physicochemical and pharmacological properties

Multidrug therapeutic hybrids constitute a promising proposal to overcome problems associated with traditional formulations containing physical mixtures of drugs, potentially improving pharmacological and pharmaceutical performance. Indomethacin (IND) is a non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) that acts by inhibiting normal processes of homeostasis, causing a series of side effects, such as gastrointestinal symptoms. Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole (OME), have been used to treat such gastrointestinal tract symptoms. In this work, two new multidrug therapeutic hybrids were prepared (an IND:OME salt and an IND:OME co-amorphous system) by ball mill grinding crystalline IND and OME under different conditions, i.e., liquid assisted grinding (LAG) with ethanol and dry grinding, respectively. The crystalline salt returned to a neutral state co-amorphous system when submitted to ball mill grinding in the absence of solvent (dry grinding), but the reverse process (LAG of the IND:OME co-amorphous system) showed partial decomposition of OME. The IND:OME co-amorphous system showed a higher physical stability than the neat IND and OME amorphous materials (with an amorphous stability longer than 100 days, compared to 4 and 16 h for the neat amorphous drugs, respectively, when stored at dry conditions at room temperature). Furthermore, OME presented a higher chemical stability in solution when dissolved from a salt form than from the pure crystalline form. The dissolution studies showed a dissolution enhancement for IND in both salt (1.8-fold after 8 h of dissolution) and co-amorphous (2.5-fold after 8 h of dissolution) forms. Anti-inflammatory activity using a mice paw oedema model showed an increase of the pharmacological response to IND at a lower dose (∼5mg/kg) for both IND:OME salt (2.8-fold) and IND:OME co-amorphous system (3.2-fold) after 6 h, when compared to the positive control group (IND, administered at 10 mg/kg). Additionally, the anti-inflammatory activity of both salt and co-amorphous form was faster than for the crystalline IND. Finally, an indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration assay in mice resulted in a higher mucosal protection at the same dose (40 mg/kg) for both IND:OME salt and IND:OME co-amorphous system when compared with crystalline OME.

Fabrication and characterization of tamarind seed gum based novel hydrogel for the targeted delivery of omeprazole magnesium

The tamarind seed gum based novel hydrogel was fabricated by varying concentration of polymer, monomer and crosslinker for the targeted delivery of omeprazole magnesium at stomach pH of 1.5. The free radical graft copolymerization of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid with tamarind seed gum backbone resulted in hydrogel. The formation of sulfonic acid pendant groups in hydrogel was observed by the existence of an infrared absorption band at 1152 cm-1 for SO group. The conversion to semicrystalline nature on incorporation of drug evidenced by powder X-ray diffraction studies with peaks at 2θ = 20.4° 31.5° and 52.2°. The scanning electron microscopy images showed bigger voids which narrowed down for drug loaded matrix, supported by the presence of a peak for magnesium in the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The greatest swelling was observed at pH 7 with second-order rate constant 1.5371 (g/g)/min and drug release was found to be 97.85 ± 1 % over 1200 min at pH 1.5. The drug release transport was found combination of diffusion and erosion of polymer chain to be super case II diffusion and Hill equation model was good fit. The hydrogel drug conjugate found to be non-toxic at tested concentrations (17 mg/50 mg) on in-vivo testing in Drosophila model.

Optimisation of the Manufacturing Process of Organic-Solvent-Free Omeprazole Enteric Pellets for the Paediatric Population: Full Factorial Design

Liquid formulations are mostly used in the paediatric population. However, with certain active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), it is very difficult to guarantee quality and stability; this is the case, for example, with omeprazole. Omeprazole is used as a model drug due to the lack of a paediatric formulation meeting gastro-resistance requirements, which remains a challenge today. In this experimental study, the development of enteric polymer-coated pellets is proposed. It is proposed to use aqueous coating dispersions without the use of organic solvents, which are commonly used in fluidised bed coatings. To do this, the design of experiments method is used as a statistical tool for experiment creation and the subsequent analysis of the responses. In particular, this study uses a randomised full factorial design. The mean weight increases of the protective layer and the enteric coating are chosen as factors. Each factor is assigned two levels. Therefore, the design of the used experiments is a 22 + 1 central point. Overall, the obtained pellets can be an alternative to the compounding formulas of omeprazole that are currently used in the paediatric population, which do not meet the gastro-resistance specifications necessary to guarantee the therapeutic efficacy of this active ingredient.

Micellar buccal film for safe and effective control of seizures: Preparation, in vitro characterization, ex vivo permeation studies and in vivo assessment

The current research article focused on formulating an easily applied, water-based buccal film loaded with the antiepileptic drug, lamotrigine (LTG). The designed film can be comfortably administered by epileptic patients to ensure a controllable therapeutic efficacy against seizures. The solubility of LTG in water was significantly improved by micellar solubilization. Upon testing several surfactants, three of them (Synperonic PE/P84, Brij L23, and Brij 78) achieved maximum possible solubility for LTG and were characterized for their micellar size, cloud point, and % transmittance. Selected micellar systems were incorporated within a buccal film prepared using solvent casting method based on either gelatin or polyvinylpyrrolidone (3%w/v) with 1.5%w/v propylene glycol as a plasticizer. Different micellar films were characterized for their physicochemical characteristics, swelling index, folding endurance, drug content uniformity, and in vitro LTG release. From the tested formulations, one formulation; LTG-BF1 (in which Brij 78 was used for the micellar solubilization and gelatin as the matrix former), was selected as the optimum and extensively studied for mucoadhesion, ex vivo permeation studies by Franz diffusion cells and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results showed superior enhanced permeation of micellar film. LTG-BF1 was evaluated for the in vivo performance using rats. Status epilepticus was induced in rats by injecting Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) i.p. at an initial dose of 30 mg/kg, followed by 10 mg/kg every10 min till 60 min. A group of rats receiving the designed buccal formulation (20 mg/kg) was compared with a group receiving the same dose of the oral market product and the normal control and PTZ groups. Rats receiving LTG-BF1 recorded reduced seizure scores at all stages, longer latency time, and higher threshold PTZ dose compared to PTZ and market product groups. In addition, LTG-BF1 reduced brain concentrations of TNF-α and TGF-β with an elevation of EAAT2 and GABA brain contents compared to PTZ and market product groups and ameliorated neuronal damage. In conclusion, LTG-loaded buccal micellar film proved a superior antiepileptic effect in PTZ induced acute epileptic model.

The Influence of Omeprazole on the Dissolution Processes of pH-Dependent Magnetic Tablets Assessed by Pharmacomagnetography

Pharmacomagnetography involves the simultaneous assessment of solid dosage forms (SDFs) in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the drug plasmatic concentration, using a biomagnetic technique and pharmacokinetics analysis. This multi-instrumental approach helps the evaluation, as GI variables can interfere with the drug delivery processes. This study aimed to employ pharmacomagnetography to evaluate the influence of omeprazole on the drug release and absorption of metronidazole administered orally in magnetic-coated tablets. Magnetic-coated tablets, coated with Eudragit^® E-100 (E100) and containing 100 mg of metronidazole, were produced. For the in vivo experiments, 12 volunteers participated in the two phases of the study (placebo and omeprazole) on different days to assess the bioavailability of metronidazole. The results indicated a shift as the pH of the solution increased and a delay in the dissolution of metronidazole, showing that the pH increase interferes with the release processes of tablets coated with E100. Our study reinforced the advantages of pharmacomagnetography as a tool to perform a multi-instrumental correlation analysis of the disintegration process and the bioavailability of drugs.

Effect of Elevated pH on the Commercial Enteric-Coated Omeprazole Pellets Resistance: Patent Review and Multisource Generics Comparison

Omeprazole is a widely used over-the-counter (20 mg) proton pump inhibitor, usually supplied as oral enteric-coated pellets intended to release at pH 5.5 and higher; however, it is sensitive to acidic pH. The likelihood of elevated gastric pH in practice is very high for patients; thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of elevated pH on the performance of commercial omeprazole pellets. Commercial enteric-coated delayed-release pellets were tested with water uptake-weight loss (WU-WL) test at pH range between 1.2 and 4.5 in addition to "gastric" (pH 1.2 or 4.5) and "intestinal" (pH 7.4) phase dissolution tests. The range of physical characteristics of pellets was determined with a single pellet size and sedimentation time measurement, followed by the application of modified Stokes' Law equation. The coefficient of variation of pellet size and density, and volume-density determination coefficient (R²) as descriptors of coating thickness and microstructure variability, degree of ionisation of enteric polymers, aqueous solubility and molecular weight of plasticisers have been found useful to explain commercial delayed-release pellets behaviour during WU-WL and dissolution test. Investigated commercial delayed-release pellets demonstrated pH-dependent WU-WL results. "Gastric phase" dissolution testing of pellets at pH 4.5 showed the highest omeprazole degradation (48.1%) for Nosch Labs, intermediate values of dose loss (23.4% and 17.1%) for Teva and UQUIFA delayed-release pellets, respectively. Lab Liconsa pellets have been found as the least susceptible (3.2% of dose loss). Additionally, "gastric phase" dissolution test at pH 4.5 significantly influenced omeprazole release during the "intestinal phase". The risk of inadequate therapy associated with intake of investigated enteric-coated delayed-release pellets at elevated gastric pH has been found as minimal for Lab Liconsa and has increased from UQUIFA and Teva to Nosh Labs pellets.