Effects of thermal neutron irradiation on some potential excipients for colonic delivery systems

Facile Preparation of Samarium Carbonate-Polymethacrylate Microspheres as a Neutron-Activatable Radioembolic Agent for Hepatic Radioembolization

Radioembolization shows great potential as a treatment for intermediate- and advanced-stage liver cancer. However, the choices of radioembolic agents are currently limited, and hence the treatment is relatively costly compared to other approaches. In this study, a facile preparation method was developed to produce samarium carbonate-polymethacrylate [152Sm2(CO3)3-PMA] microspheres as neutron activatable radioembolic microspheres for hepatic radioembolization. The developed microspheres emits both therapeutic beta and diagnostic gamma radiations for post-procedural imaging. The 152Sm2(CO3)3-PMA microspheres were produced from commercially available PMA microspheres through the in situ formation of 152Sm2(CO3)3 within the pores of the PMA microspheres. Physicochemical characterization, gamma spectrometry and radionuclide retention assay were performed to evaluate the performance and stability of the developed microspheres. The mean diameter of the developed microspheres was determined as 29.30 ± 0.18 µm. The scanning electron microscopic images show that the spherical and smooth morphology of the microspheres remained after neutron activation. The 153Sm was successful incorporated into the microspheres with no elemental and radionuclide impurities produced after neutron activation, as indicated by the energy dispersive X-ray analysis and gamma spectrometry. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that there was no alteration to the chemical groups of the microspheres after neutron activation. After 18 h of neutron activation, the microspheres produced an activity of 4.40 ± 0.08 GBq.g−1. The retention of 153Sm on the microspheres was greatly improved to greater than 98% over 120 h when compared to conventionally radiolabeling method at ~85%. The 153Sm2(CO3)3-PMA microspheres achieved suitable physicochemical properties as theragnostic agent for hepatic radioembolization and demonstrated high radionuclide purity and 153Sm retention efficiency in human blood plasma.

Colonic delivery of metronidazole-loaded capsules for local treatment of bacterial infections: A clinical pharmacoscintigraphy study

Drug delivery to the colon offers great promise for local treatment of colonic diseases as it allows bypassing systemic absorption in the small intestine, thereby increasing luminal drug concentrations in the colon. The primary objective of this in vivo pharmaco-scintigraphy study was to assess the colon drug targeting accuracy of a metronidazole benzoate colonic drug delivery system intended for local treatment of Clostridioides difficile infections. Additionally, it was assessed if the concept of mucoadhesion would increase colonic residence time and promote higher drug bioavailability. Two different capsule formulations were designed and tested in healthy human subjects. Capsules contained either non-mucoadhesive (NM) or mucoadhesive (M) microgranules, both loaded with 100 mg metronidazole benzoate (antibiotic prodrug) and 5 mg samarium oxide (scintigraphy tracer). Filled capsules were coated with a colonic-targeting technology consisting of two functional layers, which allow for accelerated drug release mediated by the intestinal pH in combination with colonic bacteria. Coated capsules were neutron-activated to yield the radioisotope ¹⁵³Sm prior to administration to 18 healthy subjects. Gamma-scintigraphy imaging was combined with the measurement of drug plasma levels. Formulation NM showed high colon-targeting accuracy. Initial capsule disintegration within the targeted ileocolonic region was observed in 8 out of 9 subjects (89%) with colonic arrival times in the range of 3.5-12 h and reduced systemic exposure. In contrast, the mucoadhesive formulation M showed some inconsistency regarding the site of initial capsule disintegration (targeting accuracy 56%). Variability of drug release was attributed to self-adhesion and agglomeration of the mucoadhesive microparticles within the capsule. Accurate ileocolonic delivery of metronidazole-loaded microgranules was achieved following oral administration of colonic-targeted capsules. Delayed drug release from NM microparticles in the colon leads to a reduced systemic exposure compared to immediate-release data from literature and presumably elevated drug concentrations in the colonic lumen. This approach offers promising options for the local treatment of colonic diseases.

Internal radiation dosimetry of orally administered radiotracers for the assessment of gastrointestinal motility

Radionuclide imaging using (111)In, (99m)Tc and (153)Sm is commonly undertaken for the clinical investigation of gastric emptying, intestinal motility and whole gut transit. However the documented evidence concerning internal radiation dosimetry for such studies is not readily available. This communication documents the internal radiation dosimetry for whole gastrointestinal transit studies using (111)In, (99m)Tc and (153)Sm labeled formulations. The findings were compared to the diagnostic reference levels recommended by the United Kingdom Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee, for gastrointestinal transit studies.

Moisture plasticization for enteric Eudragit® L30D-55-coated pellets prior to compression into tablets

Enteric polymers such as cellulose esters (cellulose acetate phthalate, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate) and methacrylic acid-acrylate copolymers (Eudragit® L100-55 and S100) are quite brittle in the dry state and thus not suitable as pellet coatings for compression into tablets. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of humidity treatment for moisture plasticization in order to successfully compress the enterically coated pellets. The mechanical properties of Eudragit® L100-55 improved dramatically, while the properties of the other enteric polymers showed only minor changes after storage at higher humidity. The significant increase in flexibility of the Eudragit® L film was caused by hydration/plasticization; its elongation value changed from approx. 3% in the dry state to approx. 140% at the higher storage humidity. Storage at 84% relative humidity resulted in comparable release profiles of compressed and uncompressed pellets. The glass transition temperature of Eudragit® L films decreased below the compression temperature (room temperature) at storage humidities between 75% and 84%. The glass transition relative humidity leading to a change from the glassy to the rubbery state was determined by dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) to be 76.8%. Moisture resulted in superior plasticization for Eudragit® L than the conventional plasticizer triethyl citrate. The improved compressibility of high humidity treated Eudragit® L-coated pellets was also shown with single pellet compression data as indicated by an increased crushing force and deformation. In conclusion, moisture plasticization was a highly effective tool to enable the successful compression of pellets coated with the brittle enteric polymer Eudragit® L.

Production and first use of 153SmCl3-ion exchange resin capsule formulation for assessing gastrointestinal motility

We produced an enteric-coated gelatine capsule containing neutron-activated (153)Sm-labelled resin beads for use in gastrointestinal motility studies. In vitro test in simulated gastrointestinal environment and in vivo study on volunteers were performed. Scintigraphic images were acquired from ten volunteers over 24h while blood and urine samples were collected to monitor the presence of (153)Sm. All the capsules remained intact in stomach. This proved to be a safe and practical oral capsule formulation for whole gut transit scintigraphy.

Evaluation of physical and chemical changes in pharmaceuticals flown on space missions

Efficacy and safety of medications used for the treatment of astronauts in space may be compromised by altered stability in space. We compared physical and chemical changes with time in 35 formulations contained in identical pharmaceutical kits stowed on the International Space Station (ISS) and on Earth. Active pharmaceutical content (API) was determined by ultra- and high-performance liquid chromatography after returning to Earth. After stowage for 28 months in space, six medications aboard the ISS and two of matching ground controls exhibited changes in physical variables; nine medications from the ISS and 17 from the ground met the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) acceptance criteria for API content after 28 months of storage. A higher percentage of medications from each flight kit had lower API content than the respective ground controls. The number of medications failing API requirement increased as a function of time in space, independent of expiration date. The rate of degradation was faster in space than on the ground for many of the medications, and most solid dosage forms met USP standard for dissolution after storage in space. Cumulative radiation dose was higher and increased with time in space, whereas temperature and humidity remained similar to those on the ground. Exposure to the chronic low dose of ionizing radiation aboard the spacecraft as well as repackaging of solid dosage forms in flight-specific dispensers may adversely affect stability of pharmaceuticals. Characterization of degradation profiles of unstable formulations and identification of chemical attributes of stability in space analog environments on Earth will facilitate development of space-hardy medications.

Pectin-based oral drug delivery to the colon

This review presents an overview of studies concerning oral formulations intended for site-specific drug delivery to the colon with pectin as the main excipient. The biological aspects covered include gastrointestinal transit and the enzymatic degradation of pectin. Scintigraphic methods demonstrating the functionality of pectin formulations are discussed. The main focus is on the various formulations reported, including matrix tablets, multiparticulate formulations as pellets and hydrogel beads, and pectin-based coatings. Also included is an evaluation of common excipients employed to improve colon specificity by crosslinking or increasing the hydrophobicity. Finally, properties of the pectin molecules that are important for successful formulations are examined. The conclusion is that the studies found in the literature provide an excellent platform for the development of pectin-based colon delivery systems.

Gamma scintigraphic evaluation of the fate of microcrystalline chitosan granules in human stomach

In several reports of in vitro studies it has been suggested that the mucoadhesive chitosans could be of value in preparing gastro-retentive formulations. The aim of this study was to obtain direct in vivo evidence of whether microcrystalline chitosan (MCCh) formulations acted as gastro-retentive systems in humans. Neutron-activation-based gamma scintigraphy was used to study gastric residence times of MCCh granules in healthy male volunteers. Possible effects of neutron irradiation on the properties of the MCCh granules were studied in advance, in vitro. In vivo gamma scintigraphic evaluations were carried out with the subjects in a fasted state, using granules containing 95% (F1) or 40% (F2) of MCCh of molecular weight 150 kDa. Reference formulation (F3) was lactose granules. The reference granules passed rapidly from the stomach (mean t50% 0.5+/-0.3 h (n=5)). MCCh in granules prolonged gastric residence times of the formulations in only a few cases (in one volunteer in the F1 group (n=4) and in two volunteers in the F2 group (n=5)). Maximum individual t50% values were 2.1 h (F1) and 2.3 h (F2). It was concluded that the in vivo mucoadhesion of MCCh formulations is erratic, and that the formulations studied are not reliable gastro-retentive drug delivery systems.

Influence of neutron activation factors on matrix tablets for site specific delivery to the colon

The impact of the neutron activation procedure, i.e. incorporation of samarium oxide (Sm(2)O(3)) and neutron irradiation, on the compression properties (including the crushing strength) and in vitro dissolution of potential colonic delivery systems based on matrix tablets of amidated pectin (Am.P) or two types of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) was investigated. The neutron activation factors did not influence the compression properties of the tablets. Replacement of magnesium stearate with samarium stearate in directly compressed Am.P tablets to achieve both radiolabelling and lubrication resulted in a greater extent of concentration-dependent reduction of the crushing strength. Dissolution tests demonstrated that irradiation increased the release of the model drug ropivacaine from the tablets. The extent of this increase was unexpectedly low considering the previously observed degradation of the polymer expressed as an irradiation-induced viscosity reduction in solutions prepared from the polymers. Delayed-release coating with Eudragit L 100 protected the HPMC tablets against the release-increasing effect of irradiation until the late phases of release. Sm(2)O(3) retarded the release to a varying extent depending on particle characteristics. Incorporation of Sm(2)O(3) in the coating layer did not influence the release. However, one-third of the radioactivity leached from the coating within 60 min in 0.1 M HCl.

Development of pectin matrix tablets for colonic delivery of model drug ropivacaine

The objective of this work was to develop pectin-based matrix tablets for colonic delivery of the model drug ropivacaine, with the future perspective of radiolabelling the system by neutron activation technique for a gamma-scintigraphic study. The aim was to investigate some formulation factors that could reduce the release of the drug in the simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, increase the release in the simulated cecal fluid (with pectinolytic enzymes) and improve the poor compactibility of pectins. For dissolution studies, the flow-through apparatus with sequential dissolution liquids simulating the mouth-to-colon conditions was used. The effect of two pectin types, the incorporation of ethylcellulose as a dry matrix-additive and water or ethanol as granulation liquids were investigated in a study designed as a D-optimal mixture. Amidated pectin (Am.P) produced harder tablets than the calcium salt of pectin (Ca.P) and was more susceptible to enzymatic degradation. Addition of ethylcellulose increased the tablet strength and the dissolution rate. Furthermore, directly compressed Am.P tablets were produced by addition of coarse or micronised qualities of ethylcellulose. The latter improved the crushing strength markedly imposing a marginal release-reducing effect. Coating this formulation with Eudragit((R)) L 100 reduced the release in the simulated upper GI conditions without interference with the subsequent enzymatic activity.

Influence of neutron activation factors on the physico-chemical properties of suppositories and their excipients

The effect of the neutron activation factors, i.e., admixture of samarium oxide (Sm2O3) and irradiation time, on the physico-chemical properties of the raw materials and the in vitro dissolution and disintegration of hydrophilic and lipophilic suppositories was investigated. It was possible to expose the pure bases and the model drugs (5-aminosalicylic acid [5-ASA] and ropivacaine hydrochloride) to 1 min of neutron irradiation in a flux of 1.1.1013 n cm-2s-1. The dissolution and disintegration of the corresponding suppositories showed that the physico-chemical properties and the fraction of incorporated drug together with the lipophilic/hydrophilic nature of the base were important factors. Sm2O3 increased the disintegration time of hydrophilic suppositories containing 5-ASA, while the dissolution of both drugs from these formulations remained unchanged. Sm2O3 did not alter the disintegration time of the lipophilic formulations, but it reduced the dissolution of both drugs from these suppositories. Irradiation induced different behaviour in the different bases.