A propitious role of marine sourced polysaccharides: Drug delivery and biomedical applications

Numerous compounds, with extensive applications in biomedical and biotechnological fields, are present in the oceans, which serve as a prime renewable source of natural substances, further promoting the development of novel medical systems and devices. Polysaccharides are present in the marine ecosystem in abundance, promoting minimal extraction costs, in addition to their solubility in extraction media, and an aqueous solvent, along with their interactions with biological compounds. Certain algae-derived polysaccharides include fucoidan, alginate, and carrageenan, while animal-derived polysaccharides comprise hyaluronan, chitosan and many others. Furthermore, these compounds can be modified to facilitate their processing into multiple shapes and sizes, as well as exhibit response dependence to external conditions like temperature and pH. All these properties have promoted the use of these biomaterials as raw materials for the development of drug delivery carrier systems (hydrogels, particles, capsules). The present review enlightens marine polysaccharides providing its sources, structures, biological properties, and its biomedical applications. In addition to this, their role as nanomaterials is also portrayed by the authors, along with the methods employed to develop them and associated biological and physicochemical properties designed to develop suitable drug delivery systems.

Study on formulation and preparation technology of the composite cellulose-based enteric capsule shells

OBJECTIVE

To study the new formulation and technology of composite cellulose-based enteric capsule shell with one-time dipping molding without organic solvent.

METHODS

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate-55S (Hp55S) was used as the main film-forming material, agar as gelling agent, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as disintegrating regulator. The preparation technology was as follows: ① Hp55S was dissolved in dilute ammonia solution with pH of 10 ∼ 11 at room temperature to obtain transparent Hp55S solution. ② The mixture of HPMC, KCl, and Tween-80 was fully dispersed in the agar solution at 90 ∼ 100 °C and cooled to 50 ∼ 55 °C under continuous stirring to obtain a transparent agar/HPMC solution. ③The Hp55S solution was heated to 50 ∼ 55 °C and poured into the agar/HPMC solution and stirred evenly to obtain the composite cellulose solution, which was kept at 50 ∼ 55 °C for standby. ④The composite cellulose-based enteric capsule shells were prepared by dipping, spinning, drying, stripping and trimming, and joining.

RESULTS

The composite cellulose-based enteric capsule shell prepared according to this formula and process met the quality requirements of 'enterosoluble vacant capsules' in Chinese Pharmacopeia.

CONCLUSION

Compared with the traditional formula and preparation technology of enteric capsule shell, the product is a plant type enteric capsule shell, no organic solvent is used in the formula, and the forming steps of multiple dipping solution is not used in the process. The advantages of this study are that the production steps are simplified, the production process is environmentally friendly, and the production cost is reduced.

Preparation, Properties and Potential of Carrageenan-Based Hard Capsules for Replacing Gelatine: A Review

Intense efforts to develop alternative materials for gelatine as a drug-delivery system are progressing at a high rate. Some of the materials developed are hard capsules made from alginate, carrageenan, hypromellose and cellulose. However, there are still some disadvantages that must be minimised or eliminated for future use in drug-delivery systems. This review attempts to review the preparation and potential of seaweed-based, specifically carrageenan, hard capsules, summarise their properties and highlight their potential as an optional main component of hard capsules in a drug-delivery system. The characterisation methods reviewed were dimensional analysis, water and ash content, microbial activity, viscosity analysis, mechanical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, swelling degree analysis, gel permeation chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The release kinetics of the capsule is highlighted as well. This review is expected to provide insights for new researchers developing innovative products from carrageenan-based hard capsules, which will support the development goals of the industry.

Spray dried nanospheres for inclusion complexes of cefpodoxime proxetil with β-cyclodextrin, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and methyl-β-cyclodextrin: improved dissolution and enhanced antibacterial activity

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current research was the development hard cellulose capsules containing cefpodoxime proxetil (CEF) (BCS-Class II) encapsulated nanospheres of inclusion complexes with β-CD, HP-β-CD and M-β-CD for efficient antibacterial therapy.

SIGNIFICANCE

The reason for this phenomenon is to bring an innovative approach to effective oral antimicrobial therapy with hard cellulose capsules containing spray dried nanospheres of CEF with β-CD, HP-β-CD and M-β-CD by means of increased solubility, dissolution rate and improved antibacterial efficiency with lower oral dose.

METHODS

Phase solubility analyses was performed to evaluate the drug/CD interaction, involving the stoichiometry and apparent stability constant. Following the preparation of inclusion complexes by spray-drying method, complexes were characterized for physical, solid-state and microbiological analyses. In vitro dissolution from hard cellulose capsules containing CEF and CEF/β-CD, CEF/HP-β-CD and CEF/M-β-CD complexes were performed.

RESULTS

According to AL type phase solubility curves, complexes were formulated as 1:1 molar ratio. The solubility of pure CEF was determined as 0.241 ± 0.002 mg mL-1, the solubility of inclusion complexes increased solubility from 3 to 5 times. The strong host-guest interaction was confirmed for CEF/HP-β-CD and CEF/M-β-CD complexes with SEM, DSC, FT-IR and 1H-NMR analyses. Inclusion complexes were more efficient on bacterial cells (2-4 fold) than pure CEF both Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Hard-cellulose capsules filled with inclusion complexes exhibited significantly faster release than unprocessed CEF.

CONCLUSION

Hard-cellulose capsules containing CEF/HP-β-CD and CEF/M-β-CD complexes appear to be superior alternative to commercially available CEF tablets for effective antibacterial therapy.

A Novel Method for Preparation of Carrageenan/Fish Scale Collagen/Allopurinol Biocomposite Film

Biopolymers such as carrageenan or collagen can be used as carriers for loading a drug to enhance a drug’s bioavailability. In this work, allopurinol was loaded on a carrageenan/collagen blend and the carrageenan/collagen/allopurinol (CCA) biocomposite films were prepared using the ionic gelation method combined with the 3D printing method using carrageenan/collagen/allopurinol gel as a 3D printing ink material. The advantages of the 3D printing method are the ease in shaping the design of films and the ease in controlling the thickness of films. The results of infrared (IR) spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analyses showed that the CCA biocomposite films have a regular structure, and the functional groups of components in the biocomposites can interact with each other. After 30 minutes of immersion in distilled water and pH buffer solution, the biocomposite films swelled and disintegrated. The carrageenan/collagen blend can control the release of allopurinol in simulated body fluids. In addition, the drug release kinetic models reflecting the release process of allopurinol from CCA biocomposite films in simulated body fluids have also been calculated.