Fast Dissolving/Disintegrating Dosage Forms of Natural Active Compounds and Alternative Medicines

Fast disintegrating dosage forms of mucoadhesive-based nanoparticles for oral insulin delivery: Optimization to in vivo evaluation

The aim of this work was to develop fast disintegrating dosage forms, including fast disintegrating tablets (FDTs) and films (FDFs), for oral insulin delivery incorporating mucoadhesive thiolated chitosan (TCS)-based nanoparticles (NPs). Cyclodextrin (CD)-insulin complexes were formed to prevent insulin from degradation and further optimally prepared NPs in order to improve the mucoadhesive properties. After that, these NPs were incorporated into the dosage forms and then evaluated for their morphology as well as physical and mechanical properties. The disintegration time, insulin content, mucoadhesive properties, insulin release, cytotoxicity, in vivo hypoglycemic effect, and stability of dosage forms were studied. Results showed that the CD-insulin complexes were successfully encapsulated into the mucoadhesive NPs. The 15 %w/w CD-insulin complex-loaded NPs, which were probably dispersed and/or fused into the dosage forms, showed promising characteristics, including rapid disintegration as well as good physical and mechanical properties to withstand erosion during handling and storage. The porous structure of the FDTs promoted liquid flow and induced rapid disintegration. The dosage forms provided buccal mucoadhesion before, during, and/or after the disintegration. The FDFs containing hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD)-insulin complex-loaded NPs increased mucoadhesion, increasing insulin release. Furthermore, these dosage forms provided excellent in vivo hypoglycemic response with a prolonged effect in diabetic mice and had no cytotoxicity toward the gingival fibroblast cells. In addition, they were stable at temperatures between 2 and 8 °C for three months. The results indicate that these formulations could be applied as promising dosage forms for use in oral insulin delivery.

Empagliflozin containing chitosan-alginate nanoparticles in orodispersible film: preparation, characterization, pharmacokinetic evaluation and its in-vitro anticancer activity

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the this study was to develop orodispersity film using chitosan-alginate to improve dissolution profile, therapeutic effect with improvedbioavailability of empagliflozin through oral route non-invasively for further cytotoxicity study.

METHODS

The nanoparticles were developed through two-step mechanisms ionotropic pre-gelation and polyelectrolyte complexation methods. The prepared nanoparticles were added to a polymer matrix containinghypromellose, polyvinyl alcohol, and maltodextrin and casted to rapidly dissolving thin film by solvent casting method.

RESULTS

The physicochemical characteristics of empagliflozin in orodispersible film was most favourable for further studies. This formulation have acheived a higher permeability (7.2-fold) as compared to the reference drug product (Jardiance®) after 45 min.In-vivo pharmacokinetic studies in Wistar ratshaverevealed that chitosan-alginate empagliflozin nanoparticles in the orodispersible film were 1.18-fold more bioavailable in comparison to empagliflozin in orodispersible film. The C_max observed for the empagliflozin-loaded orodispersible film was 15.42 ± 5.13 μg/ml in comparison to 18.21 ± 5.53 μg/ml for empagliflozin nanoparticle-containing orodispersible film and 12.19 ± 6.71 μg/ml for freedrug suspension. The t_1/2and AUC_0-t values for chitosan-alginate nanoparticles of empagliflozin in the orodispersible film was found1.4-fold more than empagliflozin loaded orodispersible film(without nanoparticles). The cytotoxicity study have shownthat chitosan-alginate nanoparticles of empagliflozin in orodispersible film achieved a 2.5-fold higher cytotoxic effect than free empagliflozin in orodispersible film in A549lung cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence that chitosan-alginate nanoparticles of empagliflozin in orodispersible film can be an effective drug carrier system to improve sustained effect with better bioavailability of poorly water soluble drug.

Dissipation and Residues of Pyraclostrobin in Rosa roxburghii and Soil under Filed Conditions

Rosa roxburghii has been widely planted in China. Powdery mildew is the most serious disease of R. roxburghii cultivation. Pyraclostrobin was widely used as a novel fungicide to control powdery mildew of R. roxburghii. To assess the safety of pyraclostrobin for use on R. roxburghii fruits, its residue rapid analysis as well as an investigation on its dissipation behaviors and terminal residues in R. roxburghii and soil under field conditions were carried out. The QuEChERS method was simplified using LC−MS/MS detection and combined with liquid−liquid extraction purification to allow determination of pyraclostrobin levels in R. roxburghii fruits and the soil. The fortified recoveries at 0.1~5.0 mg/kg were 93.48~102.48%, with the relative standard deviation of 0.64~3.21%. The limit of detection of the analytical method was 0.16 and 0.15 µg/kg for R. roxburghii fruit and soil, respectively. The effects of different spray equipment and formulations on the persistence of pyraclostrobin in R.roxburghii were as follows: gaston gasoline piggyback agricultural sprayer (5.38 d) > manual agricultural backpack sprayer (3.37 d) > knapsack multi-function electric sprayer (2.91 d), suspension concentrate (SC) (6.78 d) > wettable powder (WP) (5.64 d) > water dispersible granule (WG) (4.69 d). The degradation of pyraclostrobin followed the first-order kinetics and its half-lives in R.roxburghii and soil were 6.20~7.79 days and 3.86~5.95 days, respectively. The terminal residues of pyraclostrobin in R. roxburghii and soil were 0.169~1.236 mg/kg and 0.105~3.153 mg/kg, respectively. This study provides data for the establishment of the maximum residue limit (MRL) as well as the safe and rational use of pyraclostrobin in R. roxburghii production.