Syntheses and pharmacokinetics properties of an iloperidone pharmaceutical cocrystal

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of iloperidone-loaded lipid nanoemulsions via oral route of administration

Iloperidone (IL) is practically insoluble in water and has significant first-pass metabolism, resulting in low oral bioavailability in humans (36%). IL lipid nanoemulsions (IL-LNEs) were prepared to improve oral bioavailability. IL-LNEs were formulated by hot homogenization and ultrasonication method. Soybean oil and egg lecithin in various concentrations as emulsifier were used in the preparation of LNEs. Dynamic light scattering technique was used for globule size analysis. All LNE formulations showed narrow size distribution and the average globule size and Poly Dispersity Index (PDI) were found to be in between 182.2 ± 2.8 to 222.3 ± 1.9 nm and 0.200 ± 0.004 to 0.274 ± 0.005 respectively. Zeta potential values varied from -20.0 ± 0.15 to -28.9 ± 0.30 mV which indicated stability of prepared LNEs. All formulations showed good entrapment efficiency ranging from 99.07 ± 0.01 to 99.28 ± 0.01% when separated using centrisart tubes and the drug content varied from 96.99 ± 0.94 to 99.06 ± 0.36%. Physical stability testing indicated the stability of all LNEs and optimized LNE-IL4 was found stable for 3 months at both refrigerated (4 °C) and room temperature (25 °C). During in vivo studies in wistar rats, the optimized LNE showed 2.47-fold improvement in the oral bioavailability and superior (1.22-fold) pharmacodynamic activity when compared to marketed tablet suspension (Ilosure-4^®) in suppressing the hyperlocomotor activity, being induced by MK-801 (Dizocilpine).

Pharmaceutical cocrystals, salts and multicomponent systems; intermolecular interactions and property based design

As small molecule drugs become harder to develop and less cost effective for patient use, efficient strategies for their property improvement become increasingly important to global health initiatives. Improvements in the physical properties of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), without changes in the covalent chemistry, have long been possible through the application of binary component solids. This was first achieved through the use of pharmaceutical salts, within the last 10-15years with cocrystals and more recently coamorphous systems have also been consciously applied to this problem. In order to rationally discover the best multicomponent phase for drug development, intermolecular interactions need to be considered at all stages of the process. This review highlights the current thinking in this area and the state of the art in: pharmaceutical multicomponent phase design, the intermolecular interactions in these phases, the implications of these interactions on the material properties and the pharmacokinetics in a patient.

Oral nanomedicine approaches for the treatment of psychiatric illnesses

Psychiatric illnesses are a leading cause of disability and morbidity globally. However, the preferred orally dosed pharmacological treatment options available for depression, anxiety and schizophrenia are often limited by factors such as low drug aqueous solubility, food effects, high hepatic first-pass metabolism effects and short half-lives. Furthermore, the discovery and development of more effective psychotropic agents has stalled in recent times, with the majority of new drugs reaching the market offering similar efficacy, but suffering from the same oral delivery concerns. As such, the application of nanomedicine formulation approaches to currently available drugs is a viable option for optimizing oral drug delivery and maximizing treatment efficacy. This review focuses on the various delivery challenges encountered by psychotropic drugs, and the ability of nanomedicine formulation strategies to overcome these. Specifically, we critically review proof of concept in vitro and in vivo studies of nanoemulsions/microemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, dendrimers, polymeric micelles, nanoparticles of biodegradable polymers and nanosuspensions, and provide new insight into the various mechanisms for improved drug performance. The advantages and limitations of current oral nanomedicine approaches for psychotropic drugs are discussed, which will provide guidance for future research directions and assist in fostering the translation of such delivery systems to the clinical setting. Accordingly, emphasis has been placed on correlating the in vitro/in vivo performance of these nanomedicine approaches with their potential clinical outcomes and benefits for patients.

Impact of pharmaceutical cocrystals: the effects on drug pharmacokinetics

INTRODUCTION

Pharmaceutical cocrystallization has emerged in the past decade as a new strategy to enhance the clinical performance of orally administered drugs. A pharmaceutical cocrystal is a multi-component crystalline material in which the active pharmaceutical ingredient is in a stoichiometric ratio with a second compound that is generally a solid under ambient conditions. The resulting cocrystal exhibits different solid-state thermodynamics, leading to changes in physicochemical properties that offer the potential to significantly modify drug pharmacokinetics.

AREAS COVERED

The impact of cocrystallization upon drug pharmacokinetics has not yet been well delineated. Herein, we compile previously published data to address two salient questions: what effect does cocrystallization impart upon physicochemical properties of a drug substance and to what degree can those effects impact its pharmacokinetics.

EXPERT OPINION

Cocrystals can impact various aspects of drug pharmacokinetics, including, but not limited to, drug absorption. The diversity of solid forms offered through cocrystallization can facilitate drastic changes in solubility and pharmacokinetics. Therefore, it is unsurprising that cocrystal screening is now a routine step in early-stage drug development. With the increasing recognition of pharmaceutical cocrystals from clinical, regulatory and legal perspectives, the systematic commercialization of cocrystal containing drug products is just a matter of time.