Development of Extended Release Divalproex Sodium Tablets Containing Hypdrophobic and Hydrophilic Matrix

Novel Thymoquinone Nanoparticles Using Poly(ester amide) Based on L-Arginine-Targeting Pulmonary Drug Delivery

Thymoquinone (TQ), the main active constituent of Nigella sativa, has demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, which suggest its potential use in secondary infections caused by COVID-19. However, clinical deployment has been hindered due to its limited aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability. Therefore, a targeted delivery system to the lungs using nanotechnology is needed to overcome limitations encountered with TQ. In this project, a novel TQ-loaded poly(ester amide) based on L-arginine nanoparticles was prepared using the interfacial polycondensation method for a dry powder inhaler targeting delivery of TQ to the lungs. The nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR and NMR to confirm the structure. Transmission electron microscopy and Zetasizer results confirmed the particle diameter of 52 nm. The high-dose formulation showed the entrapment efficiency and loading capacity values of TQ to be 99.77% and 35.56%, respectively. An XRD study proved that TQ did not change its crystallinity, which was further confirmed by the DSC study. Optimized nanoparticles were evaluated for their in vitro aerodynamic performance, which demonstrated an effective delivery of 22.7–23.7% of the nominal dose into the lower parts of the lungs. The high drug-targeting potential and efficiency demonstrates the significant role of the TQ nanoparticles for potential application in COVID-19 and other respiratory conditions.

Novel Fluticasone Propionate and Salmeterol Fixed-Dose Combination Nano-Encapsulated Particles Using Polyamide Based on L-Lysine

One of the key challenges in developing a dry powder inhaler (DPI) of an inhalable potent fixed-dose combination (FDC) is the ability of the formulation to generate an effective and reproducible aerosol able to reach the lower parts of the lungs. Herein, a one-step approach is presented to expedite the synthesis of nanoaggregates made from a biocompatible and biodegradable polyamide based on L-lysine amino acid employing market-leading active pharmaceutical ingredients (fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol xinafoate (SAL)) for the management of asthma. The nanoaggregates were synthesized using interfacial polycondensation that produced nanocapsules with an average particle size of 226.7 ± 35.3 nm and zeta potential of −30.6 ± 4.2 mV. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis and x-ray diffraction, as well as scanning electron microscopy of the produced FDC, revealed the ability of the produced nanocapsules to encapsulate the two actives and display the best aerodynamic performance. The FDC nanocapsules displayed 88.5% and 98.5% of the emitted dose for FP and SAL, respectively. The fine particle fraction of the nominated dose was superior to the marketed product (Seretide Diskus®, Brentford, United Kingdom). The in-vitro release study showed an extended drug release profile. Our findings suggest that nanoaggregates using polyamides based on L-lysine and interfacial polycondensation can serve as a good platform for pulmonary drug delivery of FDC systems.

An overview on the mathematical modeling of hydrogels' behavior for drug delivery systems

Hydrogels-based systems (HBSs) for drug delivery are nowadays extensively used and the interest in modeling their behavior is dramatically increasing. In this review a critical overview on the modeling approaches is given, quantitatively and qualitatively analyzing the publications on the subject, the trend of the publications per year and the type of modeling approaches. It was found that, despite the drug release fitting models (i.e. Higuchi's equation) are the most abundant, their use for HBSs is decreasing in the last years and luckily, considering the limiting assumption on which they were built, they will be confined to simple mathematical fitting equations. Within the mechanistic models the "multi-component" with the swelling approximation (mass transport only) and with the mechanics (fully coupled) are experiencing the highest growth rate, with much more interest toward the last one that, in the next years could be able to provide a first principles model. Statistical models, especially based on the response surface methodology, are rapidly spreading in the scientific community mainly thanks to their ability to be predictive, regardless of the phenomenology, in the analyzed design space with very low efforts. Neural Networks models for HBSs, in countertrend with their use in the pharmaceutical industry, have never take off preferring less data demanding statistical models.

Optimization of carvedilol solid lipid nanoparticles: An approach to control the release and enhance the oral bioavailability on rabbits

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are prospective carriers for oral delivery of poorly soluble drugs with low bioavailability. Therefore, the study aimed at developing carvedilol (CVD) in SLNs to control its release and enhance its bioavailability in the management of hypertension, and cardiac diseases. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was applied to optimize the variables affecting the quality of CVD-SLNs which prepared by homogenization-ultrasonication technique. The concentrations of Percirol (X1), Gelucire (X2), and stearylamine (X3) were chosen as the crucial independent variables. The dependent variables were estimated and analyzed by Statgraphics software to achieve the optimum characteristics of the developed SLNs. The optimized SLNs was evaluated in vitro and in vivo for pharmacokinetic parameters on male New Zealand white rabbits. The results of this study revealed that the CVD-SLNs have a colloidal size of 31.3 nm with zeta potential of 24.25 mV indicating good stability and 91.43% entrapment efficiency. The in vitro release of CVD from the SLNs was best fitted to Hixon-Crowell model that describes the release from the particles with uniform size. The in vivo pharmacokinetics results indicated the prolongation in the mean residence time of CVD to 23 h when delivered in SLNs and its oral bioavailability enhanced by more than 2-folds.