Novel electrosprayed nanospherules for enhanced aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble fenofibrate

Electrospun Gelatin Nanocontainers for Enhanced Biopharmaceutical Performance of Piroxicam: In Vivo and In Vitro Investigations

BACKGROUND

Piroxicam exhibits low oral bioavailability, due to its meager solubility in water. The intent of this study was to ameliorate the bioavailability of the drug by employing a solubility-enhancing encapsulation technique.

METHODS

Seven samples were formulated with piroxicam and gelatin using both solvent evaporation and electrospraying together. Evaluation of solubility and release rate in water and assessment of bioavailability in rats were carried out in comparison with piroxicam plain drug powder (PPDP). Other in vitro explorations were accomplished using powder X-ray diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.

RESULTS

All piroxicam-loaded gelatinnanocontainers (PLGNs) enhanced solubility and release of the payload in water. In particular, a PLGN formulation consisting of piroxicam and gelatin at a 1:8 (w:w) ratio presented about 600-fold the drug solubility of that shown by PPDP. Moreover, 85.12%±10.96% of the payload was released from this formulation in 10 minutes which was significantly higher than that dissolved from PPDP in 10 minutes (11.81%±5.34%). Drug content, drug loading, and encapsulation efficiency of this formulation were 93.41%±0.56%, 10.45%±0.06%, and 66.74%±6.87%, respectively. The drug loaded in PLGNs existed in the amorphous state, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning-calorimetry analyses, and was more stable when analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis. Moreover, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis suggested nonexistence of any piroxicam-gelatin interaction in the formulation. In the scanning electron-microscopy image, PLGNs appeared as round, smooth particles, with particle size of <1,000 nm. Amelioration in bioavailability of piroxicam with the aforementioned PLGN formulation was fourfold that of PPDP.

CONCLUSION

The PLGN formulation fabricated with piroxicam and gelatin at 1:8 (w:w) might be a promising system for enhanced biopharmaceutical performance of the drug.

Electrosprayed Polymeric Nanospheres for Enhanced Solubility, Dissolution Rate, Oral Bioavailability and Antihyperlipidemic Activity of Bezafibrate

Background

Bezafibrate is a BCS class II drug as it presents very low solubility in water; therefore, its bioavailability after oral administration is very poor. The aim of this work was to enhance solubility and dissolution rate of bezafibrate in water in order to enhance its oral bioavailability.

Methods

Several formulations were prepared using PVP K30 and Cremophor ELP employing the solvent-evaporation method and the electrospraying technique. Solubility, release rate, bioavailability in male Sprague Dawley rats, and lipid profile attributes in Wistar rats were assessed in comparison with bezafibrate plain powder. Solid-state characterization was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Results

All the formulations exerted positive effect towards the desired goal. In particular, the optimized formulation furnished about 14-fold enhanced solubility and 85.48 ± 10.16% drug was released in 10 min as compared with bezafibrate alone (4.06 ± 2.59%). The drug existed in the amorphous state in the prepared sample as confirmed by XRD and DSC, whilst no drug-excipient interactions were observed through FTIR analysis. Moreover, SEM revealed smooth-surfaced spherical particles of the optimized formulation. A 5.5-fold higher oral bioavailability was achieved with the optimized formulation in comparison with bezafibrate plain powder. Also, TG, LDL and TC were decreased, and HDL was increased considerably in HFD-treated rats.

Conclusion

The optimized formulation consisting of bezafibrate, PVP K30 and cremophor ELP (1/12/1.5, w/w/w) might be a capable drug delivery system for orally administering poorly water-soluble bezafibrate with improved bioavailability and antihyperlipidemic effects.

Fenofibrate modified-release pellets with lag phase and high oral bioavailability

Purpose

Fenofibrate and statin combination therapy is highly recommended by the current clinical guidelines for treatment of mixed dyslipidemia. In this study, an innovative delayed-release preparation of fenofibrate was designed to reduce the risk of muscle toxicity, caused by simultaneous administration of this combination therapy, by altering the pharmacokinetic profile of fenofibrate, as well as to improve the oral bioavailability of the modified-release formulation.

Methods

Micronized fenofibrate was used to prepare drug-loaded cores via a powder layering process before multiparticulate pellet coating. Different coating formulations (Eudragit^® RS PO/E100, Eudragit^® RS PO/RL PO, Eudragit^® NE30D/HPMC, and EC/HPMC) were screened, and their in vitro release was compared with the commercial sustained-release pellets Lipilfen^®. Two optimized formulations were evaluated in beagle dogs using two commercial preparations of fenofibrate (the immediate-release preparation Lipanthyl^® and the sustained-release pellets Lipilfen^®) as references.

Results

The in vivo release of fenofibrate from R1 and R2 selected from in vitro tests exhibited a lag phase, and then rapid and complete drug release. The relative bioavailabilities of R1 and R2 were 100.4% and 201.1%, respectively, which were higher than that of Lipilfen^® (67.2%).

Conclusion

The modified fenofibrate pellets developed showed enhanced bioavailability and delayed-release properties. They have the potential to improve safety and compliance when co-administrated with statins. This is the first report of a delayed-release fenofibrate preparation.

Micronization for Enhancement of Curcumin Dissolution via Electrospraying Technique

Curcumin is a hydrophobic polyphenol compound exhibiting a wide range of biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-carcinogenic, anti-HIV, and anti-microbial activity. Recently, electrospraying has been successfully used to produce micro-or nano-sized particles for pharmaceutical use. In this work, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) microspheres containing curcumin were prepared via electrospraying in order to improve the bioavailability of poorly-water-soluble curcumin. The influence of five processing parameters namely curcumin/PVP ratio, tip to collector distance, and electric voltage on physic-chemical properties was investigated. The characterization and aqueous solubility of particles were determined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The result indicated that the spherical particles with particle size distribution of 164 to 730 nm obtained at a curcumin/PVP ratio of 1:30, a polymer solution concentration of 0.4%, electric voltage of 10 kV, and a tip-to-collector distance of 15 cm. Moreover, the dissolution of curcumin/PVP particle generated by electrospraying was higher than that of the original curcumin and pure curcumin particles produced by electrospraying.

Formulation of aripiprazole-loaded pH-modulated solid dispersions via hot-melt extrusion technology: In vitro and in vivo studies

The objective of this study was to formulate aripiprazole (ARI)-loaded pH-modulated solid dispersions (SD) to enhance solubility, dissolution, and bioavailability via hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology. Kollidon® 12 PF (PVP) and succinic acid (SA) were selected after solubility screenings of various polymers and acidifiers. Several formulations, varying in screw speed and drug/polymer/acidifier ratios, were extruded using an 11 mm twin-screw extruder and were investigated for the effect of these variables. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to perform solid-state characterizations of the pure drug and extrudates. The aqueous solubility and dissolution were evaluated for the pure drug and milled extrudates. Among the prepared formulations, N6 was chosen for in vivo absorption studies. Solid-state characterization demonstrated the transformation of the crystalline ARI to an amorphous state in the formulations. Each formulation showed increased solubility and dissolution compared to the drug powder. The oral bioavailability (C_max and AUC_0-12) of N6 was significantly improved when compared to the pure ARI. This novel study not only discusses the incorporation of acidifiers in SDs but also the preparation of SDs using HME technology as effective techniques to improve drug release and bioavailability.

Design of a transdermal formulation containing raloxifene nanoparticles for osteoporosis treatment

Purpose

In the clinical setting, raloxifene, a second-generation selective estrogen receptor modulator, is administered orally; however, the bioavailability (BA) is only 2% because of its poor solubility in aqueous fluids and its extensive first-pass metabolism. Therefore, it is expected that the development of a transdermally delivered formulation may reduce the necessary dose without compromising its therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we designed transdermal formulations containing raloxifene nanoparticles and evaluated their usefulness for osteoporosis therapy.

Methods

Raloxifene was crushed with methylcellulose by the bead mill method, and the milled raloxifene was gelled with or without menthol (a permeation enhancer) by Carbopol^® 934 (without menthol, Ral-NPs; with menthol, mRal-NPs). The drug release and transdermal penetration were measured using a Franz diffusion cell, and the therapeutic evaluation of osteoporosis was determined in an ovariectomized rat model.

Results

The mean particle size of raloxifene in the transdermal formulation (Ral-NPs) was 173.7 nm. Although the raloxifene released from Ral-NPs remained in the nanoparticle state, the skin penetration of raloxifene nanoparticles was prevented by the stratum corneum in rat. On the other hand, inclusion of menthol in the formulation attenuated the barrier function of the stratum corneum and permitted the penetration of raloxifene nanoparticles through the skin. Moreover, macropinocytosis relates to the skin penetration of the formulation including menthol (mRal-NPs), since penetration was inhibited by treatment with 2 µM rottlerin, a macropinocytosis inhibitor. In addition, the application of 0.3% mRal-NPs (once a day) attenuated the decreases in calcium level and stiffness of the bones of ovariectomized rat.

Conclusion

We prepared raloxifene solid nanoparticles by a bead mill method and designed a novel transdermal formulation containing nanoparticles and permeation enhancers. These trans-dermal formulations overcome the barrier properties of the skin and show high drug penetration through the transdermal route (BA 8.5%). In addition, we found that raloxifene transdermal formulations are useful for the treatment of osteoporosis in ovariectomized rat.

A novel solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) for improved stability and oral bioavailability of an oily drug, 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol

To develop a novel solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) for a water-insoluble oily drug, 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol (PLAG) with improved stability and oral bioavailability, numerous S-SNEDDS were prepared with surfactant, hydrophilic polymer, antioxidant, and calcium silicate (porous carrier) using the spray-drying method. Their physicochemical properties were evaluated using emulsion droplet size analysis, SEM and PXRD. Moreover, the solubility, dissolution, stability, and pharmacokinetics of the selected S-SNEDDS were assessed compared with the drug and a commercial soft capsule. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) with the highest drug solubility were selected as surfactant and hydrophilic polymer, respectively. Among the antioxidants tested, only butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) could completely protect the drug from oxidative degradation. The S-SNEDDS composed of PLAG/SLS/HPMC/BHA/calcium silicate at a weight ratio of 1: 0.25: 0.1: 0.0002: 0.5 provided an emulsion droplet size of less than 300 nm. In this S-SNEDDS, the drug and other ingredients might exist in the pores of carrier and attach onto its surface. It considerably improved the drug stability (about 100 vs. 70%, 60 °C for 5 d) and dissolution (about 80 vs. 20% in 60 min) compared to the commercial soft capsule. Moreover, the S-SNEDDS gave higher AUC, Cmax, and Tmax values than the commercial soft capsule; in particular, the former improved the oral bioavailability of PLAG by about 3-fold. Our results suggested that this S-SNEDDS provided excellent stability and oral bioavailability of PLAG. Thus, this S-SNEDDS would be recommended as a powerful oral drug delivery system for an oily drug, PLAG.

A review of drug delivery systems based on nanotechnology and green chemistry: green nanomedicine

This review discusses the impact of green and environmentally safe chemistry on the field of nanotechnology-driven drug delivery in a new field termed "green nanomedicine". Studies have shown that among many examples of green nanotechnology-driven drug delivery systems, those receiving the greatest amount of attention include nanometal particles, polymers, and biological materials. Furthermore, green nanodrug delivery systems based on environmentally safe chemical reactions or using natural biomaterials (such as plant extracts and microorganisms) are now producing innovative materials revolutionizing the field. In this review, the use of green chemistry design, synthesis, and application principles and eco-friendly synthesis techniques with low side effects are discussed. The review ends with a description of key future efforts that must ensue for this field to continue to grow.