Double-phase hydrogel for buccal delivery of tramadol

Prunus armeniaca Gum-Alginate Polymeric Microspheres to Enhance the Bioavailability of Tramadol Hydrochloride: Formulation and Evaluation

Combinations of polymers can improve the functional properties of microspheres to achieve desired therapeutic goals. Hence, the present study aimed to formulate Prunus armeniaca gum (PAG) and sodium alginate microsphere for sustained drug release. Blended and coated microspheres were prepared using the ionotropic gelation technique. The effect of polymer concentration variation was studied on the structural and functional properties of formulated microspheres. FTIR, XRD, and thermal analysis were performed to characterize the microspheres. All the formulations were well-formed spherical beads having an average diameter from 579.23 ± 07.09 to 657.67 ± 08.74 μm. Microspheres entrapped drugs within the range 65.86 ± 0.26–83.74 ± 0.79%. The pH-dependent swelling index of coated formulations was higher than blended. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of characteristic peaks of entrapped Tramadol hydrochloride showing no drug-polymer interaction. In vitro drug release profile showed sustained release following the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model with an R² value of 0.9803–0.9966. An acute toxicology study employing the oral route in Swiss albino mice showed no signs of toxicity. It can be inferred from these results that blending PAG with sodium alginate can enhance the stability of alginate microspheres and improve its drug release profile by prolonging the release time.

Design of Mucoadhesive Strips for Buccal Fast Release of Tramadol

Tramadol hydrochloride is a synthetic analogue of codeine and shows activity on the central nervous system as an opioid agonist and inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake. It has been used for controlling moderate to severe pain. Mucoadhesive fast-dissolving films can present greater drug availability and patient acceptance when compared to the systems of peroral administration. The films were prepared using the solvent casting method with ethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and poly(vinyl alcohol). The effect of each polymer concentration was investigated using a 2³ factorial design with repetition at the central point. The formulations were subjected to physicochemical, mechanical, ex vivo mucoadhesive and in vitro drug release profile analysis. These properties were dependent on the polymeric composition (independent factors) of each system. The optimized formulations showed good macroscopic characteristics, improved resistance to bending, rigidity, rapid swelling up to 60 s, improved mechanical and mucoadhesive characteristics, and also fast dissolving and tramadol release. The optimized formulations constitute platforms and strategies to improve the therapy of tramadol with regard to availability at the site of application, considering the necessity of rapid pain relief, and show potential for in vivo evaluation.

Cerebral effect of optimized Allium sativum oil-loaded chitosan nanorods: GC-MS analysis and in vitro/in vivo evaluation

The chemical constituents of Allium sativum (garlic) oil were investigated using the GC/MS technique after silylation, and the presence of several fatty acids and their esters was revealed. The most dominant was 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (linoleic acid), a precursor of arachidonic acid, which is essential for brain development. Garlic oil-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (GCNs) were prepared to enhance its cerebral effects, and to mask its odor and taste. Two-level orthogonal factorial design, followed by regression analysis, was used to study the influence of different formulation variables. GCN3, the formula with the smallest particle size and the highest mucoadhesion, was selected as the optimized one. Transmission electron microscopy showed that GCN3 has a short nanorod-shape outline. We aimed to investigate the influence of orally administered GCN3 compared to the plain garlic oil (GO), on ciprofloxacin-induced (CPX) neurotoxicity in rats and the probable underlying mechanisms. The results show the significantly higher neurological curative effect of GCN3 compared to GO, and its greater antidepression-like and antianxiety-like potential via the alteration of brain neurotransmitter levels and inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways. The histopathological examination showed the higher capability of GCN3 to repair the damage induced by CPX in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus area and substantia nigra brain sections. Similar results were proved immunohistochemically using Cox-2 antibody. The nanoencapsulation of GO represents a promising strategy for brain-targeting.

An overview of polymeric dosage forms in buccal drug delivery: State of art, design of formulations and their in vivo performance evaluation

Owing to the ease of the administration, the oral cavity is an attractive site for the delivery of drugs. The main difficulty for administration via the buccal route is an effective physiological removal mechanism of the oral cavity that takes way the formulation from the buccal site and decreases the bioavailability of drugs. The use of mucoadhesive polymers in buccal drug delivery shows assessing buccal drug permeation and absorption, however some studies bring an in vivo performance. This review points to the use of polymers in the manufacture of drug delivery systems (hydrogels, films and tablets) and shows the results of their in vivo performance tests.

Polymeric Hydrogels as Technology Platform for Drug Delivery Applications

Hydrogels have become key players in the field of drug delivery owing to their great versatility in terms of composition and adjustability to various administration routes, from parenteral (e.g., intravenous) to non-parenteral (e.g., oral, topical) ones. In addition, based on the envisioned application, the design of bioadhesive or mucoadhesive hydrogels with prolonged residence time in the administration site may be beneficial. For example, hydrogels are used as wound dressings and patches for local and systemic therapy. In a similar way, they can be applied in the vaginal tract for local treatment or in the nasal cavity for a similar goal or, conversely, to target the central nervous system by the nose-to-brain pathway. Overall, hydrogels have demonstrated outstanding capabilities to ensure patient compliance, while achieving long-term therapeutic effects. The present work overviews the most relevant and recent applications of hydrogels in drug delivery with special emphasis on mucosal routes.

Poloxamer-based binary hydrogels for delivering tramadol hydrochloride: sol-gel transition studies, dissolution-release kinetics, in vitro toxicity, and pharmacological evaluation

In this work, poloxamer (PL)-based binary hydrogels, composed of PL 407 and PL 188, were studied with regard to the physicochemical aspects of sol-gel transition and pharmaceutical formulation issues such as dissolution-release profiles. In particular, we evaluated the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and in vivo pharmacological performance of PL 407 and PL 407-PL 188 hydrogels containing tramadol (TR) to analyze its potential treatment of acute pain. Drug-micelle interaction studies showed the formation of PL 407-PL 188 binary systems and the drug partitioning into the micelles. Characterization of the sol-gel transition phase showed an increase on enthalpy variation values that were induced by the presence of TR hydrochloride within the PL 407 or PL 407-PL 188 systems. Hydrogel dissolution occurred rapidly, with approximately 30%-45% of the gel dissolved, reaching ~80%-90% up to 24 hours. For in vitro release assays, formulations followed the diffusion Higuchi model and lower K(rel) values were observed for PL 407 (20%, K(rel) = 112.9 ± 10.6 μg · h(-1/2)) and its binary systems PL 407-PL 188 (25%-5% and 25%-10%, K(rel) =80.8 ± 6.1 and 103.4 ± 8.3 μg · h(-1/2), respectively) in relation to TR solution (K(rel) =417.9 ± 47.5 μg · h(-1/2), P<0.001). In addition, the reduced cytotoxicity (V79 fibroblasts and hepatocytes) and genotoxicity (V79 fibroblasts), as well as the prolonged analgesic effects (>72 hours) pointed to PL-based hydrogels as a potential treatment, by subcutaneous injection, for acute pain.

Oral transmucosal drug delivery--current status and future prospects

Oral transmucosal drug delivery (OTDD) dosage forms have been available since the 1980s. In contrast to the number of actives currently delivered locally to the oral cavity, the number delivered as buccal or sublingual formulations remains relatively low. This is surprising in view of the advantages associated with OTDD, compared with conventional oral drug delivery. This review examines a number of aspects related to OTDD including the anatomy of the oral cavity, models currently used to study OTDD, as well as commercially available formulations and emerging technologies. The limitations of current methodologies to study OTDD are considered as well as recent publications and new approaches which have advanced our understanding of this route of drug delivery.

Management of Pain in the Emergency Department

Since pain is a primary impetus for patient presentation to the Emergency Department (ED), its treatment should be a priority for acute care providers. Historically, the ED has been marked by shortcomings in both the evaluation and amelioration of pain. Over the past decade, improvements in the science of pain assessment and management have combined to facilitate care improvements in the ED. The purpose of this review is to address selected topics within the realm of ED pain management. Commencing with general principles and definitions, the review continues with an assessment of areas of controversy and advancing knowledge in acute pain care. Some barriers to optimal pain care are discussed, and potential mechanisms to overcome these barriers are offered. While the review is not intended as a resource for specific pain conditions or drug information, selected agents and approaches are mentioned with respect to evolving evidence and areas for future research.

Toward mucoadhesive hydrogel formulations for the management of xerostomia: the physicochemical, biological, and pharmacological considerations

Although hydrogel formulations that may be applied to many mucosal surfaces are now readily accessible, little research effort has been concentrated on the development of systems that may be usefully employed for the prolonged hydration of the oral cavity. To this end, and set within the context of oral care in general, this review considers the requirements for the design of hydrogel formulations with an affinity for buccal cells and details methods for evaluating the performance of these formulations as treatments for the management of xerostomia.