Swelling of Zein Matrix Tablets Benchmarked against HPMC and Ethylcellulose: Challenging the Matrix Performance by the Addition of Co-Excipients

Effect of multi-mode sweep frequency ultrasound pretreatment on properties of the zeins and ACE inhibitory peptides activity of the hydrolysates

Effects of sweep frequency ultrasound (SFU) pretreatment of a new multifunctional ultrasonic equipment on hydrolysis characteristics of zeins and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of zein hydrolysates were investigated. Degree of hydrolysis of zeins reached the highest of 25.93 % and 25.72 % at 40 kHz and 25/40 kHz, respectively. While 25/40 kHz increased solubility, surface hydrophobicity, particle size uniform of zeins and ACE inhibitory activities of the hydrolysates significantly. Endogenous fluorescence indicated that 25/40 kHz promoted unfolding of protein molecules and exposure of hydrophobic residues, thereby facilitating enzymatic hydrolysis. Circular dichroism spectrum and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer illustrated that 25/40 kHz unfolded protein molecules and decreased α-helical contents remarkably. Gel permeation chromatography showed that more small-molecule active peptides were obtained from hydrolysates at 25/40 kHz. In conclusion, SFU pretreatment at 25/40 kHz with the new equipment before proteolysis is an efficient method to improve ACE inhibitory activity of the hydrolysates.

Bovine Serum Albumin-Coated Niclosamide-Zein Nanoparticles as Potential Injectable Medicine against COVID-19

(1) Background: COVID-19 has affected millions of people worldwide, but countries with high experimental anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination rates among the general population respectively show progress in achieving general herd immunity in the population (a combination of natural and vaccine-induced acquired immunity), resulting in a significant reduction in both newly detected infections and mortality rates. However, the longevity of the vaccines’ ability to provide protection against the ongoing pandemic is still unclear. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to have new medications to fight against the pandemic at the earliest point possible. Recently, it has been found that repurposing already existing drugs could, in fact, be an ideal strategy to formulate effective medication for COVID-19. Though there are many FDA-approved drugs, it has been found that niclosamide (NIC), an anthelmintic drug, has significantly high potential against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. (2) Methods: Here we deployed a simple self-assembling technique through which Zein nanoparticles were successfully used to encapsulate NIC, which was then coated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) in order to improve the drugs’ stability, injectablity, and selectivity towards the virus-infected cells. (3) Results: The particle size for the BSA-stabilized Zein-NIC nanohybrid was found to be less than 200 nm, with excellent colloidal stability and sustained drug release properties. In addition, the nanohybrid showed enhanced drug release behavior under serum conditions, indicating that such a hybrid drug delivery system could be highly beneficial for treating COVID-19 patients suffering from high endothelial glycocalyx damage followed by a cytokine storm related to the severe inflammations.

Design, development and optimization of sustained release floating, bioadhesive and swellable matrix tablet of ranitidine hydrochloride

Ranitidine HCl, a selective, competitive histamine H₂-receptor antagonist with a short biological half-life, low bioavailability and narrow absorption window, is an ideal candidate for gastro-retentive drug delivery system (GRDDS). Controlled release with an optimum retentive formulation in the upper stomach would be an ideal formulation for this drug. The aim of the present study was therefore to develop, formulate and optimize floating, bioadhesive, and swellable matrix tablets of ranitidine HCl. The matrix tablets were prepared using a combination of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) as release retarding polymers, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) as gas generating agent and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as direct compression diluent. Central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize the formulation and a total of thirteen formulations were prepared. Concentration of HPMC/NaCMC (3:1) (X₁) and NaHCO₃ (X₂) were selected as independent variables; and floating lag time (Y₁), bioadhesive strength (Y₂), swelling index at 12 h (Y₃), cumulative drug release at 1 h (Y₄), time to 50% drug release (t_50%) (Y₅) and cumulative drug release at 12 h (Y₆) were taken as the response variables. The optimized batch showed floating lag time of 5.09 sec, bioadhesive strength of 29.69 g, swelling index of 315.04% at 12 h, t_50% of 3.86 h and drug release of 24.21% and 93.65% at 1h and 12 h, respectively, with anomalous release mechanism. The results indicate that sustained release matrix tablet of ranitidine HCl with combined floating, bioadhesive and swelling gastro-retentive properties can be considered as a strategy to overcome the low bioavailability and in vivo variation associated with the conventional ranitidine HCl tablet.

Image Analysis: A Versatile Tool in the Manufacturing and Quality Control of Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

In pharmaceutical sciences, visual inspection is one of the oldest methods used for description in pharmacopeias and is still an important part of the characterization and qualification of active ingredients, excipients, and dosage forms. With the development of technology, it is now also possible to take images of various pharmaceutical dosage forms with different imaging methods in a size range that is hardly visible or completely invisible to the human eye. By analyzing high-quality designs, physicochemical processes can be understood, and the results can be used even in the optimization of the composition of the dosage form and in the development of its production. The present study aims to show some of the countless ways image analysis can be used in the manufacturing and quality assessment of different dosage forms. This summary also includes measurements and an evaluation of, amongst others, a less studied dosage form, medicated foams.