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Yoo O, von Ungern-Sternberg BS, Lim LY. Paediatric Medicinal Formulation Development: Utilising Human Taste Panels and Incorporating Their Data into Machine Learning Training. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2112. [PMID: 37631326 PMCID: PMC10459634 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15082112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
This review paper explores the role of human taste panels and artificial neural networks (ANNs) in taste-masking paediatric drug formulations. Given the ethical, practical, and regulatory challenges of employing children, young adults (18-40) can serve as suitable substitutes due to the similarity in their taste sensitivity. Taste panellists need not be experts in sensory evaluation so long as a reference product is used during evaluation; however, they should be screened for bitterness taste detection thresholds. For a more robust evaluation during the developmental phase, considerations of a scoring system and the calculation of an acceptance value may be beneficial in determining the likelihood of recommending a formulation for further development. On the technological front, artificial neural networks (ANNs) can be exploited in taste-masking optimisation of medicinal formulations as they can model complex relationships between variables and enable predictions not possible previously to optimise product profiles. Machine learning classifiers may therefore tackle the challenge of predicting the bitterness intensity of paediatric formulations. While advancements have been made, further work is needed to identify effective taste-masking techniques for specific drug molecules. Continuous refinement of machine learning algorithms, using human panellist acceptability scores, can aid in enhancing paediatric formulation development and overcoming taste-masking challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Okhee Yoo
- Pharmacy, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia;
| | - Britta S. von Ungern-Sternberg
- Perioperative Medicine Team, Perioperative Care Program, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA 6009, Australia;
- Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, Perth Children’s Hospital, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Lee Yong Lim
- Pharmacy, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia;
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Ranmal SR, Lavarde M, Wallon E, Issa S, Taylor WR, Nguyen Ngoc Pouplin JLA, Tuleu C, Pensé-Lhéritier AM. Responsive Sensory Evaluation to Develop Flexible Taste-Masked Paediatric Primaquine Tablets against Malaria for Low-Resource Settings. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1879. [PMID: 37514065 PMCID: PMC10385610 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Primaquine is an important antimalarial drug for malaria transmission blocking and radical cure, but it is not currently available in child-friendly formulations in appropriate doses. Adult-strength tablets are often crushed and dissolved in water to obtain the required dose, which exposes the drug's bitter taste. As part of the developing paediatric primaquine (DPP) project, this study adopted a responsive sensory pharmaceutics approach by integrating real-time formulation development and pre-clinical taste assessment to develop palatable, flavour-infused primaquine tablets. A design of experiment (DoE) approach was used to screen different taste-masking agents and excipient blends with trained, expert sensory assessors, with quinine hydrochloride as a model bitter tastant. The taste-masking efficacy of selected prototype formulation blends was validated with naïve assessors using the highest 15 mg primaquine dose. The mean bitterness intensity rating, measured on a discrete 11-point scale, was halved from 7.04 for the unflavoured control to 2.74-3.70 for the formulation blends. Sucralose had the biggest impact on bitterness suppression and improving palatability. Two different flavouring systems have been developed, and their acceptability in paediatric patients will be assessed as part of upcoming validation field clinical trials in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sejal R Ranmal
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Marc Lavarde
- Ecole de Biologie Industrielle-EBI, UPR EBInnov®, 49 Avenue des Genottes CS90009, 95895 Cergy, France
| | - Elodie Wallon
- Ecole de Biologie Industrielle-EBI, UPR EBInnov®, 49 Avenue des Genottes CS90009, 95895 Cergy, France
| | - Samar Issa
- Ecole de Biologie Industrielle-EBI, UPR EBInnov®, 49 Avenue des Genottes CS90009, 95895 Cergy, France
| | - Walter R Taylor
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/60 Rajvithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK
| | | | - Catherine Tuleu
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
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De Jesús Valle MJ, Zarzuelo Castañeda A, Maderuelo C, Cencerrado Treviño A, Loureiro J, Coutinho P, Sánchez Navarro A. Development of a Mucoadhesive Vehicle Based on Lyophilized Liposomes for Drug Delivery through the Sublingual Mucosa. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14071497. [PMID: 35890395 PMCID: PMC9317145 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14071497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
A pharmaceutical vehicle based on lyophilized liposomes is proposed for the buccal administration of drugs aimed at systemic delivery through the sublingual mucosa. Liposomes made of egg phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol (7/3 molar ratio) were prepared and lyophilized in the presence of different additive mixtures with mucoadhesive and taste-masking properties. Palatability was assayed on healthy volunteers. The lyophilization cycle was optimized, and the lyophilized product was compressed to obtain round and capsule-shaped tables that were evaluated in healthy volunteers. Tablets were also assayed regarding weight and thickness uniformities, swelling index and liposome release. The results proved that lyophilized liposomes in unidirectional round tablets have palatability, small size, comfortability and buccal retention adequate for sublingual administration. In contact with water fluids, the tablets swelled, and rehydrated liposomes were released at a slower rate than permeation efficiency determined using a biomimetic membrane. Permeability efficiency values of 0.72 ± 0.34 µg/cm2/min and 4.18 ± 0.95 µg/cm2/min were obtained for the liposomes with and without additives, respectively. Altogether, the results point to the vehicle proposed as a liposomal formulation suitable for systemic drug delivery through the sublingual mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José De Jesús Valle
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.D.J.V.); (A.Z.C.); (C.M.); (A.C.T.)
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Aranzazu Zarzuelo Castañeda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.D.J.V.); (A.Z.C.); (C.M.); (A.C.T.)
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Cristina Maderuelo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.D.J.V.); (A.Z.C.); (C.M.); (A.C.T.)
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Alejandro Cencerrado Treviño
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.D.J.V.); (A.Z.C.); (C.M.); (A.C.T.)
| | - Jorge Loureiro
- CPIRN-IPG—Center of Potential and Innovation of Natural Resources, Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal; (J.L.); (P.C.)
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal
| | - Paula Coutinho
- CPIRN-IPG—Center of Potential and Innovation of Natural Resources, Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal; (J.L.); (P.C.)
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal
| | - Amparo Sánchez Navarro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (M.J.D.J.V.); (A.Z.C.); (C.M.); (A.C.T.)
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-677-584152
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