Eco-friendly novel deconvoluted synchronous spectrofluorimetric approach for the determination of favipiravir, levodropropizine and moxifloxacin hydrochloride as an effective therapeutic combination for COVID-19; application in laboratory prepared mixtures and spiked human plasma

In this work, a green, fast, and simple synchronous spectrofluorimetric approach has been developed to simultaneously determine favipiravir, levodropropizine, and moxifloxacin hydrochloride as co-administered medications for COVID-19 treatment in pure form and spiked human plasma. The synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy technique to analyze the studied drugs at Δλ = 110 nm enabled the determination of levodropropizine at 360 nm. Then, applying Fourier Self-Deconvolution to each spectra to measure favipiravir and moxifloxacin hydrochloride at peak amplitudes of 431 nm and 479 nm, respectively, without any interference. Favipiravir, levodropropizine, and moxifloxacin hydrochloride could be sensitively determined using the described approach over concentration ranges of 20-300 ng/mL, 10-600 ng/mL, and 50-500 ng/mL, respectively. The method's validation was carried out effectively in accordance with guidelines recommended by the ICH. Finally, the Eco-scale and Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI) techniques have been used to evaluate the greenness of the proposed method.

Moxifloxacin-loaded in situ synthesized Bioceramic/Poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) composite scaffolds for treatment of osteomyelitis and orthopedic regeneration

High local intraosseous levels of antimicrobial agents are required for adequate long-term treatment of chronic osteomyelitis (OM). In this study, biodegradable composite scaffolds of poly-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone/calcium phosphate (CaP) were in-situ synthesized using two different polymer grades and synthesis pathways and compared to composites prepared by pre-formed (commercially available) CaP for delivery of the antibiotic moxifloxacin hydrochloride (MOX). Phase identification and characterization by Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirmed the successful formation of different CaP phases within the biodegradable polymer matrix. The selected in-situ formed CaP scaffold showed a sustained release for MOX for six weeks and adequate porosity. Cell viability study on MG-63 osteoblast-like cells revealed that the selected composite scaffold maintained the cellular proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, it was able to diminish the bacterial load, inflammation and sequestrum formation in the bones of OM-induced animals. The results of the present work deduce that the selected in-situ formed CaP composite scaffold is a propitious candidate for OM treatment, and further clinical experiments are recommended.

Improved Ocular Bioavailability of Moxifloxacin HCl using PLGA Nanoparticles: Fabrication, Characterization, In-vitro and In-vivo Evaluation

Improving the bioavailability of a drug at the ocular surface presents a profound challenge. Due to ocular physiological barriers, conventional eye drops exhibit poor bioavailability of drugs. Sustained-release nanoparticles may improve the residence time and hence increase absorption of the drug from the corneal surface. The current study focuses on the development of a nanoparticle-based system for the ophthalmic sustained delivery of moxifloxacin, to enhance ocular retention and bioavailability of the drug. PLGA was used as the matrix-forming polymer in the nanoparticle formulation. Nanoparticles were manufactured using a double emulsion (w/o/w) solvent evaporation technique. The formulation was optimized based on physicochemical properties, including size, polydispersity index, and stability. Nanoparticles were also evaluated for in-vitro drug release and pharmacokinetic evaluation in a rabbit model. The optimized formulation exhibited a relatively high initial release rate for six hours followed by sustained release of a drug via diffusion. The in-vivo ocular tolerance studies confirmed that moxifloxacin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles were non-irritating to the eye. The pharmacokinetic studies revealed that the nanoparticles provided a high C_max, AUC, MRT, and low clearance rate when compared to commercial eye drops. It can be concluded that such PLGA nanoparticles offer the potential for improved bioavailability of moxifloxacin HCl.

Chitosan-calcium phosphate composite scaffolds for control of post-operative osteomyelitis: Fabrication, characterization, and in vitro-in vivo evaluation

Osteomyelitis is a progressive inflammatory disease requiring prolonged systemic treatment with high antibiotic doses, and is very challenging to be treated. The use of locally applied antibiotics loaded on a biodegradable carrier at surgery sites is hypothesized to prevent post-operative osteomyelitis, while providing site-specific drug release. In this work, chitosan-based calcium phosphate composites were prepared and loaded with moxifloxacin hydrochloride. The in-situ formation of calcium phosphates within the composite was experimentally confirmed by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that the composites provided complete drug release over three days, and the selected composite formulation induced differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts, while reducing bacterial count, inflammation and intra-medullary fibrosis in bone tissue specimens of osteomyelitis-induced animal model. Hence, we can conclude that the in situ prepared antibiotic-loaded calcium phosphate chitosan composite is promising in preventing post-operative osteomyelitis, and is worthy of clinical experimentation.

Moxifloxacin Hydrochloride-Loaded Eudragit® RL 100 and Kollidon® SR Based Nanoparticles: Formulation, In vitro Characterization and Cytotoxicity

BACKGROUND

Considering the low ocular bioavailability of conventional formulations used for ocular bacterial infection treatment, there is a need to design efficient novel drug delivery systems that may enhance precorneal retention time and corneal permeability.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

The current research focuses on developing nanosized and non-toxic Eudragit® RL 100 and Kollidon® SR nanoparticles loaded with moxifloxacin hydrochloride (MOX) for its prolonged release to be promising for effective ocular delivery.

METHODS

In this study, MOX incorporation was carried out by spray drying method aiming ocular delivery. In vitro characteristics were evaluated in detail with different methods.

RESULTS

MOX was successfully incorporated into Eudragit® RL 100 and Kollidon® SR polymeric nanoparticles by a spray-drying process. Particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, particle morphology, thermal, FTIR, NMR analyses and MOX quantification using HPLC method were carried out to evaluate the nanoparticles prepared. MOX loaded nanoparticles demonstrated nanosized and spherical shape while in vitro release studies demonstrated modified-release pattern, which followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model. Following the successful incorporation of MOX into the nanoparticles, the formulation (MOX: Eudragit® RL 100, 1:5) (ERL-MOX 2) was selected for further studies because of its better characteristics like cationic zeta potential, smaller particle size, narrow size distribution and more uniform prolonged release pattern. Moreover, ERLMOX 2 formulation remained stable for 3 months and demonstrated higher cell viability values for MOX.

CONCLUSION

In vitro characterization analyses showed that non-toxic, nano-sized and cationic ERL-MOX 2 formulation has the potential of enhancing ocular bioavailability.

Effects of simulated microgravity and intravenous moxifloxacin on intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with abdominal infection

AIM: To investigate the effects of simulated microgravity and intravenous moxifloxacin on intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with abdominal infection.

METHODS: Sixty healthy adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10 each): microgravity + abdominal infection (MAI), microgravity + abdominal infection + moxifloxacin (MAIM), microgravity + sham operation (MSO), normal gravity + abdominal infection (NGAI), normal gravity + abdominal infection + moxifloxacin (NGAIM), and normal gravity + sham operation (NGSO). Tail suspension was used to simulate the weightlessness animal model, and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model was used to mimic abdominal infection. The CLP procedure was performed in rats under simulated weightlessness for 48 h. Moxifloxacin hydrochloride (30 mg/kg) was injected via the tail vein for animals in the MAIM and GAIM groups at 0, 24 and 48 h post-CLP. At 60 h post-CLP, blood and ileal samples were collected for measurement of serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactate (D-LA) by radioimmunoassay, portal endotoxin by kinetic turbidimetric limulus test, Occludin and ZO-1 expression in the ileal mucosa by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, and Fas, Fasl and Bax mRNA expression by real-time PCR. The pathological changes in the ileum were observed under a light microscope.

RESULTS: Light microscopy revealed interstitial edema and vascular congestion in the ileal mucosa and submucosa with focal necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in animals with abdominal infection upon simulated microgravity. The pathological alterations in the MAIM and NGAIM groups were alleviated compared with the MAI and NGAI groups. DAO activity, serum D-LA level and portal endotoxin were significantly increased in the MAI and NGAI groups, but significantly decreased in the moxifloxacin treatment groups, with the lowest level in the sham operation groups (P < 0.05). These parameters were significantly higher in animals under simulated microgravity than in animals under normal gravity (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that Occludin and ZO-1 proteins stained as brown particles were mainly located in the cell membrane and cytoplasm with a continuous distribution in the normal intestinal mucosa. Their staining was sparse in the MAI and NGAI groups, which was improved in the moxifloxacin treatment groups, especially in the MSO and NGSO groups. Western blot analysis showed that Occludin and ZO-1 proteins were expressed at a low level in the MAI and NGAI groups, up-regulated after moxifloxacin treatment, and highest in the MSO and NGSO groups (P < 0.05). Real-time PCR showed that Fas, Fasl and Bax mRNAs were expressed abundantly in the ileal mucosa in the MAI and NGAI groups, down-regulated in the MAIM and NGAIM groups, and lowest in the MSO and NGSO groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Simulated microgravity aggravates the damage to intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with CLP-induced abdominal infection, and intravenous moxifloxacin could exert an unambiguous therapeutic effect on the pathological changes in the intestinal mucosal barrier.

Simple and sensitive stability-indicating ion chromatography method for the determination of cyclopropylamine in nevirapine and moxifloxacin hydrochloride drug substances

A simple and sensitive ion chromatography method has been developed for the determination of cyclopropylamine (CPA) in nevirapine (NEV) and moxifloxacin HCl (MOX) pharmaceutical drug substances. Efficient chromatographic separation was achieved on a Metrosep C4, 5 μm (250 mm × 4.0 mm) column. The mobile phase consists of 5 mM hydrochloric acid containing 10% (v/v) acetonitrile and was delivered in an isocratic mode at a flow rate of 0.9 mL min⁻¹ at 27°C. A conductometric detector was used for the detection of the analyte. The drug substances were subjected to stress conditions including oxidation, thermal, photolytic and humidity for the evaluation of the stability-indicating nature of the method. The method was validated for specificity, precision, linearity, accuracy and solution stability. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values are 0.10 μg mL⁻¹ and 0.37 μg mL⁻¹ respectively. The linearity range of the method is between 0.37 μg mL⁻¹ and 1.5 μg mL⁻¹ and the correlation coefficient is found to be 0.9971. The average recoveries of CPA in NEV and MOX are 97.0% and 98.0%, respectively.