Development and Evaluation of Controlled and Simultaneous Release of Compound Danshen Based on a Novel Colon-Specific Osmotic Pump Capsule

Formulation and optimization of a single-layer coat for targeting budesonide pellets to the descending Colon

The current budesonide formulations are inadequate for addressing left-sided colitis, and patients might hesitate to use an enema for a prolonged time. This study focuses on developing a single-layer coating for budesonide pellets targeting the descending colon. Pellets containing budesonide (1.5%w/w), PVP K30 (5%w/w), lactose monohydrate (25%w/w) and Avicel pH 102 (68.5%w/w) were prepared using extrusion spheronization technique. Coating formulations were designed using response surface methodology with pH and time-dependent Eudragits. Dissolution tests were conducted at different pH levels (1.2, 6.5, 6.8, and 7.2). Optimal coating formulation, considering coating level and the Eudragit (S + L) ratio to the total coating weight, was determined. Budesonide pellets were coated with the optimized composition and subjected to continuous dissolution testing simulating the gastrointestinal tract. The coating, with 48% S, 12% L, and 40% RS at a 10% coating level, demonstrated superior budesonide delivery to the descending colon. Coated pellets had a spherical shape with a uniform 30 µm thickness coating, exhibiting pH and time-dependent release. Notably, zero-order release kinetics was observed for the last 9 h in colonic conditions. The study suggests that an optimized single-layer coating, incorporating pH and time-dependent polymers, holds promise for consistently delivering budesonide to the descending colon.

Osmotic Pump Drug Delivery Systems-A Comprehensive Review

In the last couple of years, novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) have attracted much attention in the food and pharmaceutical industries. NDDS is a broad term that encompasses many dosage forms, one of which is osmotic pumps. Osmotic pumps are considered to be the most reliable source of controlled drug delivery, both in humans and in animals. These pumps are osmotically controlled and release active agents through osmotic pressure. To a large extent, drug release from such a system is independent of gastric fluids. Based on such unique properties and advantages, osmotic pumps have made their mark on the pharmaceutical industry. This review summarizes the available osmotic devices for implantation and osmotic tablets for oral administration.

SeDeM tool-driven full factorial design for osmotic drug delivery of tramadol HCl: Formulation development, physicochemical evaluation, and in-silico PBPK modeling for predictive pharmacokinetic evaluation using GastroPlus™

The study is based on using SeDeM expert system in developing controlled-release tramadol HCl osmotic tablets and its in-silico physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling for in-vivo pharmacokinetic evaluation. A Quality by Design (QbD) based approach in developing SeDEM-driven full factorial osmotic drug delivery was applied. A 2⁴ Full-factorial design was used to make the trial formulations of tramadol HCl osmotic tablets using NaCl as osmogen, Methocel K4M as rate controlling polymer, and avicel pH 101 as diluent. The preformulation characteristics of formulations (F1-F16) were determined by applying SeDeM Expert Tool. The formulation was optimized followed by in-vivo predictive pharmacokinetic assessment using PBPK “ACAT” model of GastroPlus™. The FTIR results showed no interaction among the ingredients. The index of good compressibility (ICG) values of all trial formulation blends were ≥5, suggesting direct compression is the best-suited method. Formulation F3 and F4 were optimized based on drug release at 2, 10, and 16 h with a zero-order kinetic release (r² = 0.992 and 0.994). The SEM images confirmed micropores formation on the surface of the osmotic tablet after complete drug release. F3 and F4 were also stable (shelf life 29.41 and 23.46 months). The in vivo simulation of the pharmacokinetics of the PBPK in-silico model revealed excellent relative bioavailability of F3 and F4 with reference to tramadol HCl 50 mg IR formulations. The SeDeM expert tool was best utilized to evaluate the compression characteristics of selected formulation excipients and their blends for direct compression method in designing once-daily osmotically controlled-release tramadol HCl tablets. The in-silico GastroPlus™ PBPK modeling provided a thorough pharmacokinetic assessment of the optimized formulation as an alternative to tramadol HCl in vivo studies.

Development, optimization and pharmacokinetic evaluation of biphasic extended-release osmotic drug delivery system of trospium chloride for promising application in treatment of overactive bladder

Background

The research was aimed with an approach to formulate biphasic extended-release system of trospium chloride resulting in controlled release of drug up to 24 h with prospects of better control on urinary frequency, efficacy, tolerability, and improved patient compliance. The push–pull osmotic pump (PPOP) bi-layered tablet of trospium chloride (60 mg) was developed with the use of immediate-release polymers in the pull layer (30 mg drug) and polyethylene oxide in the push layer (remaining 30 mg drug). The tablet was formulated by compression after non-aqueous granulation, seal coating, and semipermeable coating. The tablet prepared was laser drilled to create an orifice for drug release.

Results

Comparative in vitro dissolution and in vivo pharmacokinetic analysis of available marketed formulations demonstrated the complete drug release within 16–18 h; hence the developed biphasic extended-release system has its great importance as it provides zero-order release up to 24 h.

Conclusions

The developed biphasic extended-release drug delivery system of trospium chloride provides the drug release for 24 h with effective plasma concentration in comparison with the available marketed formulation. Extended release of drug from the developed formulation provides scope for its promising application in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB).

Synthesis and characterization of osmotic pump capsules containing polyoxyethylene and pH modifier to control the release of nifedipine

The aim of this study was to formulate osmotic pump capsules (OPCs) to control the release of nifedipine (NP). NP solid dispersion was prepared by solvent evaporation method. The prepared mixture of NP solid dispersion and various excipients were filled into the commercial HPMC hard capsule shells and then coated with cellulose acetate (CA) solution to form NP-OPC. The CA coating solution consisted of CA as semi-permeable membrane, and Poloxamer 188 as pore formers. The impact of addition agents, citric acid and pore formers on in vitro drug release were investigated. Furthermore, the study has highlighted the impact of paddle speed and the pH value of release media, on the release and compared the release with the commercial controlled release tablets. The in vitro drug release study indicated that drug release could reach 95% in 24 h with optimal formulation, and interestingly model fitting showed that the drug release behavior was closely followed to zero-order release kinetics. The pharmacokinetic studies were performed in rabbits with commercial controlled release tablets as reference, both preparations showed a sustained release effect. Compared with traditional preparation methods of OPCs, the new preparation process was simplified without the operation of laser drilling and the sealing process of capsule body and cap, which improved the feasibility of industrial production.

Effects of Borneol on the Release of Compound Danshen Colon-Specific Osmotic Pump Capsule In Vitro and Pharmacokinetics Study in Beagle Dogs

Borneol can enhance the bioavailability of several other drugs by opening the blood-brain barrier and inhibiting P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux. However, whether borneol will impact the bioavailability and the mechanism of compound Danshen colon-specific osmotic pump capsule (CDCOPC) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the effects of borneol on the in vitro release and in vivo pharmacokinetic characteristics of CDCOPC. Besides, the in vitro release behavior of CDCOPC was further assessed by chromatographic fingerprints. The in vitro release studies showed that borneol followed the zero-order release and hardly impacted the in vitro release of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Panax notoginseng in CDCOPC. Moreover, as revealed from the similarity results of fingerprints, the in vitro release of different components of CDCOPC was almost simultaneous. Compared with the commercially available tablets, the pharmacokinetics studies suggested that both CDCOPCs containing and lacking borneol could significantly prolong the retention time of these effective components; their average relative bioavailability values increased to 448.70% and 350.97%, respectively. Notably, borneol significantly improved the relative bioavailability of some components of CDCOPC, such as salvianolic acid B (SAB), tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), notoginsenoside R₁ (R₁), ginsenoside Rg₁ (Rg₁), and ginsenoside Re (Re) from CDCOPC, while it slightly impacted ginsenoside Rb₁ (Rb₁) and ginsenoside Rd (Rd). Summarily, borneol is capable of improving the bioavailability of some effective components in CDCOPC, which is critical to design with CDCOPC for enhanced bioavailability. This study could also help reveal the composition principle of the compound Danshen formula (CDF).

Technological evolution of cyclodextrins in the pharmaceutical field

We herein disclose how global cyclodextrin-based pharmaceutical technologies have evolved since the early 80s through a 1998 patents dataset retrieved from Derwent Innovation Index. We used text-mining techniques based on the patents semantic content to extract the knowledge contained therein, to analyze technologies related to the principal attributes of CDs: solubility, stability, and taste-masking enhancement. The majority of CDs pharmaceutical technologies are directed toward parenteral aqueous solutions. The development of oral and ocular formulations is rapidly growing, while technologies for nasal and pulmonary routes are emerging and seem to be promising. Formulations for topical, transdermal, vaginal, and rectal routes do not account for a high number of patents, but they may be hiding a great potential, representing opportunity research areas. Certainly, the progress in materials sciences, supramolecular chemistry, and nanotechnology, will influence the trend of that, apparently neglected, research. The bottom line, CDs pharmaceutical technologies are still increasing, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years.

Patent monitoring allows the identification of relevant technologies and trends to prioritize research, development, and investment in both, academia and industry. We expect the scope of this approach to be applied in the pharmaceutical field beyond CDs technological applications.