Development and Validation of HPLC Method for Efinaconazole: Application to Human Nail Permeation Studies

Gallic acid loaded self-nano emulsifying hydrogel-based drug delivery system against onychomycosis

Aim: To developed and investigate gallic acid (GA) loaded self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) for treating onychomycosis via transungual route.Materials & methods: The SNEDDS were prepared by direct dispersion technique and were evaluated for characteristics parameters using Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, confocal microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and zeta sizer. Furthermore, the safety of prepared formulation was evaluated via Hen's egg test-chorioallantoic membrane study and stability was confirmed using different parameters. Also, its effectiveness was evaluated against fungal strain Trichophyton mentagrophytes.Results: The SNEDDS displayed a particle size of 199.8 ± 4.21 nm and a zeta potential; of -22.75 ± 2.09 mV. Drug release study illustrated a sustained release pattern with a release of 70.34 ± 0.20% over a period of 24 h. The penetration across the nail plate was found to be 1.59 ± 0.002 µg/mg and 0.97 ± 0.001 µg/mg for GA loaded SNEDDS and GA solution respectively. An irritation score of 0.52 ± 0.005 and 3.84 ± 0.001 was reported for GA loaded SNEDDS hydrogel and GA solution, indicating a decrease in the drug's irritation potential from slightly irritating to non irritating due to its entrapment within the SNEDDS.Conclusion: GA loaded SNEDDS has potential to address limitations of conventional treatments, enhancing the drug's efficacy and reducing the likelihood of resistance in the treatment of Onychomycosis.

Development by design of experiment and validation of a HPLC-UV method for simultaneous quantification of 1-nitro-2-phenylethane and methyleugenol: Application to nail permeation/retention studies

Aniba canelilla (Kunth) Mez is an aromatic tree from Amazon region whose essential oil presents 1-nitro-2-phenylethane (NP) and methyleugenol (ME) as major compounds. Several properties are attributed to Aniba canelilla essential oil (ACEO), such as antifungal. Onychomycoses are fungal nail infections that require novel therapeutic alternatives, especially topical ones. However, to ensure the success of topical therapy, the active compound should be able to penetrate/permeate the nail plate, which is challenging due to the highly keratinized composition of this structure. Thus, the aims of this article were to develop, validate and apply a high-performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC-UV) to quantify NP and ME in porcine hoof extract (PHE) and receptor fluid (RF) during in vitro permeation/retention studies in nail model, for which porcine hoof membranes were used. For method development, two Designs of Experiment (DoE) were adopted: 23 Full Factorial and Box-Behnken. Retention times of 5.65 and 7.49 min were achieved for NP and ME, respectively. The method was full validated for NP and ME quantification in receptor fluid, in accordance with the recommended parameters by ICH Q2(R1) Guideline. In addition, the method was full validated for NP and ME quantification in porcine hoof extract, considering the parameters and criteria of ICH M10 Guideline. In vitro permeation/retention studies were carried out in nail model, and promising results were obtained. NP reached the receptor fluid in the order of 441.1 ± 92.1 µg/cm2 at 72 h. The amount of NP and ME retained into porcine hoof membrane was 1272.6 ± 225.7 µg/cm2 and 84.7 ± 20.4 µg/cm2, respectively, at 72 h. Our findings open perspective to develop topical formulations containing ACEO as active compound aiming the management of onychomycosis.

Influence of Poloxamer on the Dissolution and Stability of Hot-Melt Extrusion-Based Amorphous Solid Dispersions Using Design of Experiments

The current study aimed to see the effects of poloxamer P407 on the dissolution performance of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (AquaSolve™ HPMC-AS HG)-based amorphous solid dispersions (ASD). A weakly acidic, poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), mefenamic acid (MA), was selected as a model drug. Thermal investigations, including thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), were conducted for raw materials and physical mixtures as a part of the pre-formulation studies and later to characterize the extruded filaments. The API was blended with the polymers using a twin shell V-blender for 10 min and then extruded using an 11-mm twin-screw co-rotating extruder. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the morphology of the extruded filaments. Furthermore, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was performed to check the intermolecular interactions of the components. Finally, to assess the in vitro drug release of the ASDs, dissolution testing was conducted in phosphate buffer (0.1 M, pH 7.4) and hydrochloric acid-potassium chloride (HCl-KCl) buffer (0.1 M, pH 1.2). The DSC studies confirmed the formation of the ASDs, and the drug content of the extruded filaments was observed to be within an acceptable range. Furthermore, the study concluded that the formulations containing poloxamer P407 exhibited a significant increase in dissolution performance compared to the filaments with only HPMC-AS HG (at pH 7.4). In addition, the optimized formulation, F3, was stable for over 3 months when exposed to accelerated stability studies.

Green bioanalysis: an innovative and eco-friendly approach for analyzing drugs in biological matrices

Green bioanalytical techniques aim to reduce or eliminate the hazardous waste produced by bioanalytical technologies. A well-organized and practical approach towards bioanalytical method development has an enormous contribution to the green analysis. The selection of the appropriate sample extraction process, organic mobile phase components and separation technique makes the bioanalytical method green. UHPLC-MS is the best option, whereas supercritical fluid chromatography is one of the most effective green bioanalytical procedures. Nevertheless, there remains excellent scope for further research on green bioanalytical methods. This review details the various sample preparation techniques that follow green analytical chemistry principles. Furthermore, it presents green solvents as a replacement for conventional organic solvents and highlights the strategies to convert modern analytical techniques to green methods.