Methadone implants for methadone maintenance treatment. In vitro and in vivo animal studies

Prediction of subcutaneous drug absorption - Development of novel simulated interstitial fluid media for predictive subcutaneous in vitro assays

Media that mimic physiological fluids at the site of administration have proven to be valuable in vitro tools for predicting in vivo drug release, particularly for routes of administration where animal studies cannot accurately predict human performance. The objective of the present study was to develop simulated interstitial fluids (SISFs) that mimic the major components and physicochemical properties of subcutaneous interstitial fluids (ISFs) from preclinical species and humans, but that can be easily prepared in the laboratory and used in in vitro experiments to estimate in vivo drug release and absorption of subcutaneously administered formulations. Based on data from a previous characterization study of ISFs from different species, two media were developed: a simulated mouse-rat ISF and a simulated human-monkey ISF. The novel SISFs were used in initial in vitro diffusion studies with a commercial injectable preparation of liraglutide. Although the in vitro model used for this purpose still requires significant refinement, these two new media will undoubtedly contribute to a better understanding of the in vivo performance of subcutaneous injectables in different species and will help to reduce the number of unnecessary in vivo experiments in preclinical species by implementation in predictive in vitro models.

Biomedical Applications of Thermosensitive Hydrogels for Controlled/Modulated Piroxicam Delivery

The objectives of this study are the synthesis of thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate), p(NiPAm-HPMet), hydrogels and the analysis of a drug-delivery system based on piroxicam, as a model drug, and synthesized hydrogels. A high pressure liquid chromatography method has been used in order to determine both qualitative and quantitative amounts of unreacted monomers and crosslinkers from polymerized hydrogels. Swelling kinetics and the order of a swelling process of the hydrogels have been analyzed at 10 and 40 °C. The copolymers' thermal properties have been monitored by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method. DSC termograms have shown that melting occurs in two temperature intervals (142.36-150.72 °C and 153.14-156.49 °C). A matrix system with incorporated piroxicam has been analyzed by using FTIR and SEM methods. Structural analysis has demonstrated that intermolecular non-covalent interactions have been built between side-groups of copolymer and loaded piroxicam. Morphology of p(NiPAm-HPMet) after drug incorporation indicates the piroxicam presence into the copolymer pores. Kinetic parameters of the piroxicam release from hydrogels at 37 °C and pH 7.4 indicate that the fluid transport mechanism corresponds to Fickian diffusion. As a result, formulation of thermosensitive p(NiPAm-HPMet) hydrogels with incorporated piroxicam could be of interest for further testing as a drug carrier for modulated and prolonged release, especially for topical administration.

Prediction of subcutaneous drug absorption - do we have reliable data to design a simulated interstitial fluid?

For many years subcutaneous (SC) administration has represented the main route for delivering biopharmaceuticals. However, little information exists about the milieu in the subcutaneous tissue, especially about the properties/composition of the fluid present in this tissue, the interstitial fluid (ISF), which is one of the key elements for the drug release and absorption. Better knowledge on SC ISF composition, properties and dynamics may provide better insight into in vivo drug performance. In addition, a simulated SC ISF, which allows better prediction of in vivo absorption of drugs after subcutaneous administration based on in vitro release experiments, would help to improve formulation design, and reduce the number of animal studies and clinical trials required to obtain marketing authorization. To date, a universal medium for predicting drug solubility/release in the interstitial space does not exist. This review provides an overview of the currently available information on composition and physicochemical properties of SC ISF and critically discusses different isolation techniques in the context of information that could be gained from the isolated fluid. Moreover, it surveys current in vitro release media aiming to mimic SC ISF composition and highlights information gaps that need to be filled for designing a meaningful artificial SC ISF.

Synergistic Effect of Ultrasound and Polyethylene Glycol on the Mechanism of the Controlled Drug Release from Polylactide Matrices

In this paper, the synergistic effect of ultrasound and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the controlled release of a water soluble drug from polylactide (PLA) matrices was studied. When ultrasound was used following the hot melt extrusion (HME) of the PLA/model drug release system, the release of the model drug (Methylene Blue (MB)) from the PLA when immersed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was affected by the variation of the parameters of ultrasound. It was found that no more than 2% PLA dissolved during the in-vitro release study, and the release of the MB from the PLA was diffusion controlled and fit well with the Higuchi diffusion model. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), which has high hydrophilicity and rapid dissolution speed, was blended with the PLA during the melt extrusion to enhance the release of the MB. The analysis of the structure and properties of the in-vitro release tablets of PLA/PEG/MB indicated that the ultrasound could improve the dispersion of MB in the PLA/PEG blends and it could also change the structure and properties of the PLA/PEG blends. Due to the dissolution of the PEG in PBS, the release of the MB from the PLA/PEG drug carrier was a combination of diffusion and erosion controlled release. Thus a new mechanism combining of diffusion and erosion models and modified kinetics model was proposed to explain the release behavior.

Chemopreventive efficacy of curcumin-loaded PLGA microparticles in a transgenic mouse model of HER-2-positive breast cancer

Curcumin has shown promising inhibitory activity against HER-2-positive tumor cells in vitro but suffers from poor oral bioavailability in vivo. Our lab has previously developed a polymeric microparticle formulation for sustained delivery of curcumin for chemoprevention. The goal of this study was to examine the anticancer efficacy of curcumin-loaded polymeric microparticles in a transgenic mouse model of HER-2 cancer, Balb-neuT. Microparticles were injected monthly, and mice were examined for tumor appearance and growth. Initiating curcumin microparticle treatment at 2 or 4 weeks of age delayed tumor appearance by 2-3 weeks compared to that in control mice that received empty microparticles. At 12 weeks, abnormal (lobular hyperplasia, carcinoma in situ, and invasive carcinoma) mammary tissue area was significantly decreased in curcumin microparticle-treated mice, as was CD-31 staining. Curcumin treatment decreased mammary VEGF levels significantly, which likely contributed to slower tumor formation. When compared to saline controls, however, blank microparticles accelerated tumorigenesis and curcumin treatment abrogated this effect, suggesting that PLGA microparticles enhance tumorigenesis in this model. PLGA microparticle administration was shown to be associated with higher plasma lactic acid levels and increased activation of NF-κΒ. The unexpected side effects of PLGA microparticles may be related to the high dose of the microparticles that was needed to achieve sustained curcumin levels in vivo. Approaches that can decrease the overall dose of curcumin (for example, by increasing its potency or reducing its clearance rate) may allow the development of sustained release curcumin dosage forms as a practical approach to cancer chemoprevention.

Opioid Addiction: Social Problems Associated and Implications of Both Current and Possible Future Treatments, including Polymeric Therapeutics for Giving Up the Habit of Opioid Consumption

BACKGROUND

Detoxification programmes seek to implement the most secure and compassionate ways of withdrawing from opiates so that the inevitable withdrawal symptoms and other complications are minimized. Once detoxification has been achieved, the next stage is to enable the patient to overcome his or her drug addiction by ensuring consumption is permanently and completely abandoned, only after which can the subject be regarded as fully recovered.

METHODS

A systematic search on the common databases of relevant papers published until 2016 inclusive.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Our study of the available oral treatments for opioid dependence has revealed that no current treatment can actually claim to be fully effective. These treatments require daily oral administration and, consequently, regular visits to dispensaries, which in most cases results in a lack of patient compliance, which causes fluctuations in drug plasma levels. We then reviewed alternative treatments in the available scientific literature on polymeric sustained release formulations. Research has been done not only on release systems for detoxification but also on release systems for giving up the habit of taking opioids. These efforts have obtained the recent authorization of polymeric systems for use in patients that could help them to reduce their craving for drugs.

Long-acting Preparations in Substance Abuse Management: A Review and Update

Many pharmacological approaches have been used in managing substance use disorders. Conventional pharmacological agents have relatively short durations of action which make them vulnerable to non-adherence and relapse to substance use disorder. To overcome this problem, long-acting preparations have been developed with the aim of reducing the frequency of use and hence improving adherence. This review takes a broad overview of the long-acting preparations available for the management of substance use disorders. The pharmacology, advantages and disadvantages of these preparations are discussed. Many of these preparations hold promise for improving patient outcomes.

Bioabsorbable fixation in foot and ankle

Bioabsorbable implants are playing an increasing role in the surgical management of foot and ankle pathologies. Current technology allows implants to have acceptably comparable strength and pull-out characteristics to metallic implants. The advantages include elimination of secondary surgeries, biodegradability of implants placed across mobile articular surfaces, as well as acceptable biocompatibility and resorption properties to limit historical complication concerns.

PLGA Implant Tablet of Ketoprofen: Comparison of in Vitro and in Vivo Releases

An implant tablet of ketoprofen (KP) was developed in order to achieve its sustained supply for approximately one week, and its release was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Implant tablets (30 mg) containing 1 and 5 mg of ketoprofen, prepared using poly(DL-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) copolymer (PLGA; MW 10000; lactic acid : glycolic acid=1 : 1 (mol/mol)) as a matrix, exhibited similar week-long sustained release in vitro. Plasma concentration was monitored after the implant tablet (5 mg of KP) and a KP solution (0.5 mg of KP) were administered subcutaneously to rats, and in vivo release rate was analyzed by deconvolution. The release rate from the implant tablet was faster in vivo than in vitro in the initial phase, but much lower in vivo than in vitro in the later phase. The plasma level decreased to the level less than the minimal effective concentration at 96 h after administration. However, the calculated plasma concentration given by convolution based on in vitro release rate was more than 7 times greater than the minimal effective concentration even at 96 h after administration. As the implant displayed the discrepancy between in vitro and in vivo release rates, the improvement of the in vivo release rate is required.