0000000000178725

AUTHOR

V. De Caro

ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis and in vitro Studies on a Potential Dopamine Prodrug.

Dopamine delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) undergoes the permeability limitations of blood-brain barrier (BBB) which is a selective interface that excludes most water-soluble molecules from entering the brain. Neutral amino acids permeate the BBB by specific transport systems. Condensation of dopamine with neutral amino acids could afford potential prodrugs able to interact with the BBB endogenous transporters and easily enter the brain. The synthesis and characterization of the dopamine derivative 2-amino-N-[2-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-phenyl-propionamide (7) is described. The chemical and enzymatic stability of 7 was evaluated. The molecular weight (300 Da) and Log Papp (…

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New prospective in treatment of Parkinson's disease: Studies on permeation of ropinirole through buccal mucosa

The aptitude of ropinirole to permeate the buccal tissue was tested using porcine mucosa mounted on Franz-type diffusion cells as ex vivo model. Drug permeation was also evaluated in presence of various penetration enhancers and in iontophoretic conditions. Ropinirole, widely used in treatment of motor fluctuations of Parkinson's disease, passes the buccal mucosa. Flux and permeability coefficient values suggested that the membrane does not appear a limiting step to the drug absorption. Nevertheless, an initial lag time is observed but the input rate can be modulated by permeation enhancement using limonene or by application of electric fields. Absorption improvement was accompanied by the …

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Galantamine delivery on buccal mucosa: permeation enhancement and design of matrix tablets

The most important feature in transbuccal drug delivery is the low drug passage through the buccal mucosa. In our previous work we demonstrated the aptitude of Galantamine to penetrate the buccal tissue. The collected data suggested that Galantamine passively crosses the membrane, but the calculated Js and Kp values showed that the drug amount that crosses the membrane wasn’t sufficient to assure blood therapeutic level. So, in this study, ex vivo permeation tests, using porcine buccal mucosa, were performed in presence of physical or chemical enhancers. No significant differences in penetration rate were observed using chemical enhancers as sodium dehydrocholate, EDTA disodium salt and tri…

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Curcumin modulates chronic myelogenous leukemia exosomes composition and affects angiogenic phenotype, via exosomal miR-21.

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Physical Methods for Enhancing Oral Mucosal Delivery: Sonophoresis, Iontophoresis and Electroporation

The need for more rapid onset of action and improved absorption of medications has resulted in great development of drug delivery technologies. Transmucosal drug delivery offers a convenient route of administration for a variety of clinical indications. Unfortunately, the wide variability in structure of the oral mucosal tissues could constitute a key factor in drug penetration and absorption. To circumvent this obstacle and to increase the drug flux through the mucosal membranes, different approaches to permeation enhancement are used. This chapter describes the most significant aspects of the physical techniques widely used such as sonophoresis, iontophoresis, and electroporation. These p…

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Response charactterization of ammonium tartrate solid state pellets for ESR dosimetry with radiotherapeutic photon and electron beams.

Solid state pellets (1 mm thick) for electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry were made using ammonium tartrate as the radiation-sensitive substance. Their behaviour was experimentally investigated as a function of dose with 60Co gamma rays. The calibration function obtained permits measurements of absorbed dose in the 2-50 Gy range, with a combined uncertainty of +/-4%. The lowest detectable dose was about 0.5 Gy. These properties are comparable with or even better than those of ESR dosimeters made from other materials. The time stability of the ESR signal of ammonium tartrate dosimeters at different storage conditions after irradiation was studied. A rather complex behaviour was observed, …

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ComparativeIn Vitroevaluation of cumulative release of the urinary antiseptics Nalidixic acid, Pipemidic acid, Cinoxacin, and norfloxacin from white beeswax Microspheres

AbstractThe in vitro diffusion of nalidixic acid (1), pipemidic acid (2), cinoxacin (3), and norfloxacin (4) was studied. The transfer rate constants (kd) from simulated gastro-intestinal juices to simulated plasma, throughout artificial wall lipid membranes, were defined. The kd values suggested that the four drugs are absorbed both in gastric and intestinal environments in similar amounts. To obtain lack of gastric unwanted effects white beeswax microspheres containing 1, 2, 3, and 4 were investigated as a vehicle for the drug intestinal release; they were prepared by the meltable dispersion process using wetting agents. Discrete, reproducible free flowing microspheres were obtained. The …

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Preparation of white beeswax microspheres loaded with valproic acid and kinetic study of drug release

AbstractThe well known antiepileptic valproic acid (1) due to the long treatment of epilepsy may induce many adverse side effects on various systems. To minimize unwanted toxic effects by kinetic control of drug release, 1 was physically entrapped into white beeswax microspheres using the meltable dispersion process utilizing wetting agents. Solid, discrete, reproducible free flowing microspheres were obtained converting the liquid drug droplets into solid material. The average drug content was 17% w/w. More than 95% of the isolated microspheres were of particle size range 200-425 µm. The microspheres were analyzed to quantify the amount of incorporated drug and to characterize the in vitro…

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Carnauba wax microspheres loaded with valproic acid: Preparation and evaluation of drug release

AbstractTo minimize unwanted toxic effects of valproic acid (1) by the kinetic control of drug release, gastroresistant carnauba wax microspheres loaded with the antiepileptic agent were prepared. The preparation was based on a technique involving melting and dispersion of drug-containing wax in an aqueous medium. The resulting emulsion after cooling under rapid stirring produced solid, discrete, reproducible free flowing microspheres which converted the liquid drug droplets into solid material. About 94% of the isolated microspheres were of particle size range 200-425 μm. The microspheres were analyzed to determine the drug content in various particle size range and to characterize the in …

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Neurons and ECM regulate occludin localization in brain endothelial cells

We report that extracellular matrix and neurons modulate the expression of occludin, one of the main components of tight junctions, by rat brain endothelial cells (RBE4.B). Of the three extracellular matrix proteins which we tested (collagen I, collagen IV, and laminin), collagen IV stimulated at the best the expression of occludin mRNA. The corresponding protein, however, was not synthesized. Significant amounts of occludin accumulated only when RBE4.B cells were cultured on collagen IV-coated inserts, in the presence of cortical neurons, plated on laminin-coated companion wells. Finally, occludin segregated at the cell periphery, only when endothelial cells were co- cultured with neurons …

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Effects of gamma-irradiation on trehalose–hydroxyethylcellulose microspheres loaded with vancomycin

Ionizing radiation can be used as a drug sterilization technique, provided that the drug itself is not modified and that no toxic products are produced; moreover, if the irradiated product is a drug delivery system, the drug release characteristics must not be significantly altered by radiation. The aim of this work was to study the effects of sterilization by ionizing radiation on hydroxyethylcellulose/trehalose spherical micromatrices, containing the antibiotic vancomycin. Our experimental results showed that gamma-rays did not alter the chromophore groups of vancomycin (UV measurements), and did not modify the kinetic behavior of drug release from microspheres. Moreover, no significant c…

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New Prospectives in the Delivery of Galantamine for Elderly Patients Using the IntelliDrug Intraoral Device: In Vivo Animal Studies

The transbuccal delivery of drugs could assist several categories of chronic, especially elderly, patients in adhering to a correct dosage regimen. In particular, patients suffering from dementia have several difficulties in following the prescribed dosage, in addition to problems associated with swallowing tablets. Galantamine is currently used for treating patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's-type dementia. The transbuccal delivery of this drug could be an interesting non- invasive and safe administration route. Several studies have been performed in vitro and ex vivo within the framework of a European Commission funded Project (IntelliDrug-FP6), aimed at developing a device which w…

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A new delivery system of clobetasol-17-propionate (lipid-loaded microspheres 0.025%) compared with a conventional formulation (lipophilic ointment in a hydrophilic phase 0.025%) in topical treatment of atrophic/erosive oral lichen planus. A Phase IV, randomized, observer-blinded, parallel group clinical trial.

Summary Background  Topical application of clobetasol-17-propionate has been diffusely reported as an efficacious therapy in atrophic/erosive oral lichen planus (OLP), without exposing the patient to systemic side-effects. However, prolonged contact and respective topical effects on the oral mucosa should be avoided. Objectives  The aim of the present study was to evaluate efficacy and compliance of new lipid microspheres loaded with 0·025% of clobetasol propionate (formulation A) compared with a commonly used formulation (a sort of dispersion of a lipophilic ointment in a hydrophilic phase) with the same amount of drug (formulation B) in the topical treatment of OLP. Patients and methods  …

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Entrapment of Phenytoin into Microspheres of Oleaginous Materials: Process Development and in Vitro Evaluation of Drug Release

AbstractA novel multiparticulate preparation of the antiepileptic agent phenytoin (1) was developed and evaluated in vitro. The preparation consists of gastroresistant microparticulate drug delivery system formulated with oleaginous material (lipospheres) to minimize unwanted effects of l on gastric apparatus. The drug was dispersed in a spherical micromatrix consisting of a mixture of stearyl alcohol and glycerol esters of various fatty acids. The best mixture to obtain discrete, reproducible, free-flowing lipospheres consisted of glyceryl monostearate dilaurate and stearyl alcohol (ratio 3: 17). The lipospheres were obtained by a technique involving melting and dispersion of drug-containi…

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