0000000001152800

AUTHOR

Virginia Merino

Synthesis of 3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonanes and their antiprotozoal activities.

Several bicyclic compounds, 3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonanes, have been prepared. The new compounds were tested for their activities against one strain of the causative organism of Malaria tropica, Plasmodium falciparum K1, which is resistant against chloroquine and pyrimethamine. In addition, their cytotoxicity and their activity against the pathogen of the East African form of sleeping sickness, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, were investigated. Structure-activity relationships are discussed considering data of readily prepared compounds. For the first time, a distinct in vivo activity was observed against Plasmodium berghei in a mouse model. The active compound was further investigated.

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Iontophoresis for Therapeutic Drug Delivery and Non-invasive Sampling Applications

Most research concerning iontophoresis has focused on topical and transdermal drug delivery and in non-invasive skin sampling applications. Iontophoresis has been established as a safe, versatile and efficient enhancement technique, and several iontophoretic devices have been marketed for topical (lidocaine) and systemic (fentanyl, sumatriptan) delivery and for non-invasive sampling (glucose). Nevertheless, the last decade has seen an increased interest into the potential use of iontophoresis to deliver drugs through the nail and through the sclera and cornea, the two main barriers to eye drug delivery. This chapter aims to summarize the main progress achieved in these areas.

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Erratum: Mangas-Sanjuán, V.; et al. Assessment of the Inter-Batch Variability of Microstructure Parameters in Topical Semisolids and Impact on the Demonstration of Equivalence. Pharmaceutics 2019, 11, 503

Demonstration of similar microstructure is essential for demonstrating the equivalence of generic topical products since the microstructure of semisolids may affect the drug release. The objective of this study was to compare the microstructure-defining physical parameters of different batches of a reference ointment containing calcipotriol and betamethasone (Daivobet 50 µg/0.5 mg/g) in order to define the acceptance range that allows concluding equivalence between these batches. Being batches of the same reference product, they are expected to be clinically equivalent and possess similar microstructure. The 90% confidence intervals for the test/reference ratio of these physical parameters …

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Controlled Iontophoretic Delivery in Vitro and in Vivo of ARN14140—A Multitarget Compound for Alzheimer’s Disease

ARN14140 is a galantamine-memantine conjugate that acts upon both cholinergic and glutamatergic pathways for better management of Alzheimer's disease. Poor oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetics meant that earlier preclinical in vivo studies employed intracerebroventricular injection to administer ARN14140 directly to the brain. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of using constant current transdermal iontophoresis for the noninvasive systemic delivery of ARN14140 and to quantify the amounts present in the blood and the brain. Preliminary experiments in vitro were performed using porcine skin and validated with human skin. Cumulative ARN14140 permeation across th…

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Development of antibiotic loaded biodegradable matrices to prevent superficial infections associated to total knee arthroplasty.

Abstract Development of a pharmaceutical form for the superficial infections related with arthroplasties would be helpful for clinical practice. In this context, we set out to evaluate ciprofloxacin and gentamicin elution from systems based on chitosan. Films and semisolid hydrogels containing chitosan alone (2%) or in combination with gelatin (6%) or different proportions (from 12% to 36%) of tetrakis-(hydroxymethyl)-phosphonium-chloride (THPC) were tested as delivery systems. Different antibiotic doses were assayed (0.5 mg/cm2,1 mg/cm2 and 2 mg/cm2). Antibiotic release was studied for each formulation. In vitro cytocompatibility studies and a simulation exercise for bioactivity evaluation…

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Simultaneous controlled iontophoretic delivery of pramipexole and rasagiline in vitro and in vivo: Transdermal polypharmacy to treat Parkinson's disease.

[EN] Effective treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) involves administration of therapeutic agents with complementary mechanisms of action in order to replenish, sustain or substitute endogenous dopamine. The objective of this study was to investigate anodal co-iontophoresis of pramipexole (PRAM; dopamine agonist) and rasagiline (RAS; MAO-B inhibitor) in vitro and in vivo. Passive permeation of PRAM and RAS (20 mM each) across porcine skin after 6 h was 15.7 +/- 1.9 and 16.0 +/- 2.9 mu g/cm(2), respectively. Co-iontophoresis at 0.15, 0.3 and 0.5 mA/cm(2) resulted in statistically significant increases in delivery of PRAM and RAS; at 0.5 mA/cm(2), cumulative permeation of PRAM and RAS was 61…

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Iontophoresis: electrorepulsion and electroosmosis.

Over the last 10-15 years, the electrical enhancement of drug delivery across the skin has undergone intense investigation. During this period, considerable amounts of experimental data have been generated, and the successful enhancement of a diverse array of molecules has been achieved. Indeed, the commercial exploitation of the method can be envisaged within the next few years. Despite this progress, however, the mechanistic understanding of iontophoresis remains a challenging scientific question that is yet to be fully resolved. The routes of permeation under the influence of an applied electrical potential, and the molecular interactions of the transporting drug with these pathways, hav…

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Global testing of a consensus solubility assessment to enhance robustness of the WHO biopharmaceutical classification system

The WHO Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) is a practical tool to identify active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that scientifically qualify for a waiver of in vivo bioequivalence studies. The focus of this study was to engage a global network of laboratories to experimentally quantify the pH-dependent solubility of the highest therapeutic dose of 16 APIs using a harmonized protocol. Intra-laboratory variability was ≤5 %, and no apparent association of inter-laboratory variability with API solubility was discovered. Final classification “low solubility” vs “high solubility” was consistent among laboratories. In comparison to the literature-based provisional 2006 WHO BCS classi…

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Relevance of Multidrug Resistance Proteins on the Clinical Efficacy of Cancer Therapy

Variations in drug uptake and efflux, as well as changes in intracellular drug entrapment and distribution may represent important resistance mechanisms to cancer therapy. A variety of ATP binding cassette transporters (ABC) localised in multiple cell membranes is implied in those phenomena, representing a mechanism of protection of cells against xenobiotics. Many cancer cell lines over express some ABC transporters, especially p-glycoprotein, MRP1 and BCRP. This over expression is related to worse cancer treatment outcome and, in some cases, reduced overall survival of cancer patients. This paper reviews the location and physiological role of the three transporters mentioned and also descr…

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In vitro skin penetration of bronidox, bronopol and formaldehyde from cosmetics

The objective was to evaluate the influence of the formulation in the in vitro transdermal absorption through pig ear skin of three preservatives, bronopol, bronidox and formaldehyde as well as the absorption of formaldehyde from bronopol and dimethyloldimethyl hydantoin (DMDM hydantoin). An aqueous solution, an O/W emulsion and a hydrogel were assayed. Bronidox and bronopol absorption depends on the formulation. The O/W emulsion was the system that least promoted absorption of bronidox while the absorption of bronopol was lower from the hydrogel. The aqueous solution provided maximal transdermal absorption of both preservatives. Moreover, the transdermal absorption of formaldehyde released…

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Polymeric nanospheres as strategy to increase the amount of triclosan retained in the skin: passive diffusion vs. iontophoresis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the passive and iontophoretic permeation of triclosan in human skin using a triclosan solution and triclosan-loaded cationic nanospheres in order to determine which of the two strategies is more effective in allowing the deposition of triclosan within the skin. Triclosan-loaded nanospheres were prepared by the emulsification-solvent displacement technique using aminoalkyl methacrylate (Eudragit® RL 100) as polymer matrix. Nanospheres of 261.0 ± 15.1 nm with a positive surface charge (Ψz = 26.0 ± 3.2 mV) were obtained. Drug loading was 62.0 ± 1.7%. Results demonstrated that the amount of triclosan retained within the skin was significantly greater (8.5-f…

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Variability of permeability estimation from different protocols of subculture and transport experiments in cell monolayers.

Abstract Introduction In vitro models with high predictive ability have been revealed as strong tools for pharmaceutical industry. However, the variability in permeability estimations complicates the comparison and combination of data from different laboratories and it makes necessary the careful validation of the model and the continuous suitability demonstration. The adequate standardization of pre-experimental, experimental and post-experimental factors might help to reduce the inter- and intra-laboratory variability in permeability values. Methods The objective of this paper is the evaluation of the effect of passage number, experimental protocol, time after seeding and calculation meth…

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Biophysical Models as an Approach To Study Passive Absorption in Drug Development: 6-Fluoroquinolones

A preliminary study attempting to assess and explain the intestinal absorption of a series of antibacterial 7-piperazinyl-6-fluoroquinolones is presented. The synthesis, n-octanol partition coefficients, intrinsic rat gut in situ absorption rate constants, and in vitro antibacterial activity data found for these homologous compounds are described. A fluorimetric, reverse-phase HPLC method was performed for the quantification of the quinolones in absorption and partition samples. Equations based on two classic biophysical absorption models are given for predicting the intrinsic absorption features of the series according to the partition data or merely single structural parameters. In situ a…

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Influence of polyunsaturated fatty acids on Cortisol transport through MDCK and MDCK-MDR1 cells as blood-brain barrier in vitro model.

Abstract Transport across the blood–brain barrier is a relevant factor in the pharmacological action of many drugs and endogenous substances whose action site is located in brain. An overactive P-gp has been suggested to be of relevance for the resistance of the HPA system to be suppressed by glucocorticoids, which is one of the best described biological abnormalities in certain types of depression. PUFA acids have shown clinical efficacy in depressed patients and the hypothesis is that these compounds are able to reduce HPA axis activity as this effect has been shown in animal models of depression. The objective of the present work was (1) to characterize Cortisol transport through MDCK an…

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PAMPA—a drug absorption in vitro model

Parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) was used to measure the effective permeability, P(e), as a function of pH from 4 to 10, of 17 fluoroquinolones, including three congeneric series with systematically varied alkyl chain length at the 4'N-position of the piperazine residue. The permeability values spanned over three orders of magnitude. The intrinsic permeability, P(o), and the membrane permeability, P(m), were determined from the pH dependence of the effective permeability. The pK(a) values were determined potentiometrically. The PAMPA method employed stirring, adjusted such that the unstirred water layer (UWL) thickness matched the 30-100 microm range estimated to be i…

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Iontophoretic Transdermal Delivery of Sumatriptan: Effect of Current Density and Ionic Strength

ABSTRACT: Iontophoretic transdermal delivery of sumatriptan was investigated in vitro . Among the conditions tested, 0.25 mA/cm 2 and low ionic strength (NaCl 25 mM) was the best experimental condition to increase its transport across the skin. The flux increased 385-fold respective to passive diffusion, thus resulting in a transdermal flux of sumatriptan of 1273 ± 83 nmol/cm 2 h. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association

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Transdermal therapy and diagnosis by iontophoresis

Iontophoresis, the use of an electric current to drive charged molecules across the skin, has the potential to expand the feasible range of drugs for transdermal administration significantly. This method of delivery is being examined carefully with respect to higher-molecular-weight therapeutics (in particular, peptides and small proteins), which cannot be absorbed following oral administration and for which, at this time, an invasive injection remains the only option. In addition, the procedure of so-called 'reverse' iontophoresis would appear to represent a truly noninvasive approach for diagnostic monitoring of blood chemistry.

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Transdermal and Skin-Targeted Drug Delivery

Background: The application of therapeutic agents to the skin addresses three general objectives: (a) the treatment of a variety of dermatologic diseases; (b) the “targeted” delivery of drugs to deeper subcutaneous tissues, with a concomitant reduction in systemic exposure; and (c) socalled transdermal administration to elicit a systemic pharmacologic effect. Objective: Recently, significant progress towards all three goals has been recorded and the level of research and development activity remains high. We aim to discuss these advances from mechanistic and clinical standpoints. Results: For the topical treatment of skin disease, novel vehicles (e.g., stabilized, supersaturated systems and…

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Effect of chemical enhancers on the in vitro percutaneous absorption of sumatriptan succinate

The effects of percutaneous enhancers on the transdermal absorption of sumatriptan succinate were investigated by in vitro permeation studies. Pretreatment of porcine skin with ethanol (vehicle), polyethylene glycol 600, Span 20, oleic acid, R-(+)-limonene, alpha-bisabolol and 1,8-cineole (at 5% in ethanol, w/w) produced in all cases an increase in the flux of sumatriptan. The amount of sumatriptan retained in the skin was also determined. Ethanol has showed a low but significant increment on the drug transdermal flux. Treatment of the skin with alpha-bisabolol shows the same enhancer effect than ethanol. Span 20, oleic acid, and polyethylene glycol 600 have shown a moderate enhancing activ…

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Enhancement of nortriptyline penetration through human epidermis: influence of chemical enhancers and iontophoresis.

Abstract Different known percutaneous chemical enhancers and iontophoresis have been tested in-vitro to study their ability to increase transdermal absorption of nortriptyline hydrochloride (20 mg mL−1). The chemicals 1-dodecanol, Span 20, Azone, (R)-(+)-limonene or isopropyl myristate were used as an overnight pretreatment at 5% (w/w) in ethanol. Furthermore, isopropyl myristate (20%, w/w) and propylene glycol (15%, w/w) were tested in the same vehicle. Iontophoresis was applied directly to the nortriptyline hydrochloride donor solution for three different concentrations (20, 2 and 0.5 mgmL−1). The chemical enhancers slightly increased the nortriptyline transdermal flux but iontophoresis w…

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Levofloxacin effect on erlotinib absorption. Evaluation of the interaction in undernutrition situations through population pharmacokinetic analysis in rats

The main objective of this study was to develop a pharmacokinetic model in order to describe the intestinal absorption of erlotinib in rat and to quantify the interaction of levofloxacin on this process in well- and under-nourished rats. Absorption studies were performed in male Wistar rats. Concentration-time profiles in proximal and distal intestine were analysed through non-linear mixed effect modelling using the NONMEM software version 7.3. Simulations were performed in order to explore the influence of covariates on the apparent absorption rate constant. A passive absorption and an active secretion process best-described erlotinib absorption from lumen to enterocyte. The developed mode…

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Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose films for the ophthalmic delivery of diclofenac sodium

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to prepare diclofenac/hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and diclofenac-loaded nanoparticles/HPMC films as potential systems for ocular delivery. Methods Two different concentration of the polymer were used: 1.5 and 2.0% w/v. Chitosan–hyaluronic acid nanoparticles were prepared by the ionotropic gelation technique. Nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, drug encapsulation efficiency and rheological studies. In-vitro drug studies and corneal penetration release studies were carried out. Drug release mechanism was finally evaluated by fitting the Ritger and Peppas equation to data. In addit…

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Controlled transdermal iontophoresis for poly-pharmacotherapy: Simultaneous delivery of granisetron, metoclopramide and dexamethasone sodium phosphate in vitro and in vivo.

Iontophoresis has been used to deliver small molecules, peptides and proteins into and across the skin. In principle, it provides a controlled, non-invasive method for poly-pharmacotherapy since it is possible to formulate and to deliver multiple therapeutic agents simultaneously from the anodal and cathodal compartments. The objective of this proof-of-principle study was to investigate the simultaneous anodal iontophoretic delivery of granisetron (GST) and metoclopramide (MCL) and cathodal iontophoresis of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DEX-P). In addition to validating the hypothesis, these are medications that are routinely used in combination to treat chemotherapy-induced emesis. Two p…

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Unique pharmacology of KAR-2, a potential anti-cancer agent: absorption modelling and selective mitotic spindle targeting.

Abstract Bis-indols are a large group of the anti-cancer agents, which effectively arrest the uncontrolled division of the cancerous cells. Their use in clinical chemotherapy is still limited because of: (i) the non-specific targeting of the mitotic cells; (ii) low bioavailability of the drugs. KAR-2 has been identified as a tubulin binding agent which displays significantly lower cytotoxicity but favourable anti-cancer potency than its mother molecule, vinblastine. The objective of this paper, on one hand, was to show that the human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells, used for pharmacokinetic studies display distinct sensitivity against KAR-2 and vinblastine due to their distinct targeting…

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A UHPLC-UV Method to Quantify Skin Deposition and Transdermal Permeation of Tizanidine Hydrochloride

Tizanidine hydrochloride is an α2-adrenergic agonist used for the symptomatic relief of spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or with spinal cord injury or disease. The objective of this study was to develop an isocratic, robust and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography method using UV detection for use in a project to develop a transdermal therapeutic system to deliver tizanidine across the skin. Isocratic separation was achieved using a C18 column and a mobile phase comprising a 80:20 mixture of 0.004% trifluoroacetic acid in water and MeCN (pH* 3.2) at a flow rate of 0.2 mL min(-1) Tizanidine eluted at 1.499 min and the total run time was 2 min. The method was sp…

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Double Drug Delivery Using Capped Mesoporous Silica Microparticles for the Effective Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

[EN] Silica mesoporous microparticles loaded with both rhodamine B fluorophore (S1) or hydrocortisone (S2), and capped with an olsalazine derivative, are prepared and fully characterized. Suspensions of Si and S2 in water at an acidic and a neutral pH show negligible dye/drug release, yet a notable delivery took place when the reducing agent sodium dithionite is added because of hydrolysis of an azo bond in the capping ensemble. Additionally, olsalazine fragmentation induced 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) release. In vitro digestion models show that S1 and S2 solids are suitable systems to specifically release a pharmaceutical agent in the colon. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies in rats show …

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Transintestinal secretion of ciprofloxacin, grepafloxacin and sparfloxacin: in vitro and in situ inhibition studies.

The influence of the secretion process on the absorption of ciprofloxacin, grepafloxacin and sparfloxacin has been evaluated by means of inhibition studies. Two well known P-glycoprotein inhibitors (cyclosporine, verapamil), a mixed inhibitor of P-glycoprotein and the organic cation transporter OCT1 (quinidine) and a well established MRP substrate (p-aminohipuric acid) have been selected in order to distinguish the possible carriers implicated. An in situ rat gut perfusion model and CACO-2 permeability studies are used. Both methods suggest the involvement of several types of efflux transporters for every fluoroquinolone. The relevance of the secretory pathway depends on the intrinsic perme…

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Functional Magnetic Mesoporous Silica Microparticles Capped with an Azo-Derivative: A Promising Colon Drug Delivery Device

[EN] Magnetic micro-sized mesoporous silica particles were used for the preparation of a gated material able to release an entrapped cargo in the presence of an azo-reducing agent and, to some extent, at acidic pH. The magnetic mesoporous microparticles were loaded with safranin O and the external surface was functionalized with an azo derivative 1 (bearing a carbamate linkage) yielding solid S1. Aqueous suspensions of S1 at pH 7.4 showed negligible safranin O release due to the presence of the bulky azo derivative attached onto the external surface of the inorganic scaffold. However, in the presence of sodium dithionite (azoreductive agent), a remarkable safranin O delivery was observed. A…

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Transdermal iontophoresis of dexamethasone sodium phosphate in vitro and in vivo: effect of experimental parameters and skin type on drug stability and transport kinetics

The aim of this study was to investigate the cathodal iontophoresis of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DEX-P) in vitro and in vivo and to determine the feasibility of delivering therapeutic amounts of the drug for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced emesis. Stability studies, performed to investigate the susceptibility of the phosphate ester linkage to hydrolysis, confirmed that conversion of DEX-P to dexamethasone (DEX) upon exposure to samples of human, porcine and rat dermis for 7 h was limited (82.2+/-0.4%, 72.5+/-4.8% and 78.6+/-6.0% remained intact) and did not point to any major inter-species differences. Iontophoretic transport of DEX-P across dermatomed porcine skin (0.75 mm thic…

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Influence of Chemical Enhancers and Iontophoresis on the In Vitro Transdermal Permeation of Propranolol: Evaluation by Dermatopharmacokinetics

[EN] The aims of this study were to assess, in vitro, the possibility of administering propranolol transdermally and to evaluate the usefulness of the dermatopharmacokinetic (DPK) method in assessing the transport of drugs through stratum corneum, using propranolol as a model compound. Four chemical enhancers (decenoic and oleic acid, laurocapram, and R-(+)-limonene) and iontophoresis at two current densities, 0.25 and 0.5 mA/cm(2) were tested. R-(+)-limonene, and iontophoresis at 0.5 mA/cm(2) were proven to be the most efficient in increasing propranolol transdermal flux, both doubled the original propranolol transdermal flux. Iontophoresis was demonstrated to be superior than the chemical…

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Assessment of the Inter-Batch Variability of Microstructure Parameters in Topical Semisolids and Impact on the Demonstration of Equivalence

Demonstration of similar microstructure is essential for demonstrating the equivalence of generic topical products since the microstructure of semisolids may affect the drug release. The objective of this study was to compare the microstructure-defining physical parameters of different batches of a reference ointment containing calcipotriol and betamethasone (Daivobet 50 &micro

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Development of antimigraine transdermal delivery systems of pizotifen malate.

Abstract The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a transdermal delivery system of pizotifen malate. Pizotifen is frequently used in the preventive treatment of migraine, but is also indicated in eating disorders. In the course of the project, the effects of chemical enhancers such as ethanol, 1,8-cineole, limonene, azone and different fatty acids (decanoic, decenoic, dodecanoic, linoleic and oleic acids) were determined, first using a pizotifen solution. Steady state flux, diffusion and partition parameters were estimated by fitting the Scheuplein equation to the data obtained. Among the chemical enhancers studied, decenoic acid showed the highest enhancement activity, which seeme…

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Influence of Inter- and Intra-Batch Variability on the Sample Size Required for Demonstration of Equivalent Microstructure of Semisolid Dosage Forms

Inter- and intra-batch variability of the quality attributes contribute to the uncertainty for demonstrating equivalent microstructure of post-approval changes and generic/hybrids of semisolid topical products. Selecting a representative sample size to describe accurately the in vitro properties of semisolids and to reach enough statistical power to demonstrate similarity between two semisolid topical products is currently challenging. The objective of this work is to establish the number of batches and units per batch to be compared based on different inter-batch and intra-batch variability to demonstrate equivalence in the physical characteristics of the products that ensure a similar mic…

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Candesartan Cilexetil In Vitro-In Vivo Correlation: Predictive Dissolution as a Development Tool

[EN] The main objective of this investigation was to develop an in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) for immediate release candesartan cilexetil formulations by designing an in vitro dissolution test to be used as development tool. The IVIVC could be used to reduce failures in future bioequivalence studies. Data from two bioequivalence studies were scaled and combined to obtain the dataset for the IVIVC. Two-step and one-step approaches were used to develop the IVIVC. Experimental solubility and permeability data confirmed candesartan cilexetil. Biopharmaceutic Classification System (BCS) class II candesartan average plasma profiles were deconvoluted by the Loo-Riegelman method to obtain th…

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In Situ Study of the Effect of Naringin, Talinolol and Protein-Energy Undernutrition on Intestinal Absorption of Saquinavir in Rats

To study the potential interactions of naringin (NAR), talinolol (TAL) and protein-energy undernutrition (PEU) in the absorption process of saquinavir (SQV), perfusion experiments were performed in the small intestine of rats at different SQV concentrations. The results obtained demonstrated that SQV intestinal absorption was described by simultaneous passive diffusion (kdif = 3.44 hr) and saturable absorption (Vma = 127.31 lM ⁄ hr; Kma =1 0.50lM) together with a capacity-limited efflux (Vms = 270.53 lM ⁄ hr; Kms =2 3.44lM). The competitive inhibition constants of NAR on the SQV input and efflux processes were (IC50)a =3 .98l Ma nd(IC50)s = 5.00 lM, respectively. NAR significantly decreased…

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Population modelling to describe pharmacokinetics of amiodarone in rats: Relevance of plasma protein and tissue depot binding

The objective of this paper was to characterize the disposition phase of AM in rats, after different high doses and modalities of i.v. administration. Three fitting programs, WINNONLIN, ADAPT II and NONMEM were employed. The two-stage fitting methods led to different results, none of which can adequately explain amiodarone's behaviour, although a great amount of data per subject is available. The non-linear mixed effect modelling approach allows satisfactory estimation of population pharmacokinetic parameters, and their respective variability. The best model to define the AM pharmacokinetic profile is a two-compartment model, with saturable and dynamic plasma protein binding and linear tiss…

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Efficacy of budesonide-loaded mesoporous silica microparticles capped with a bulky azo derivative in rats with TNBS-induced colitis.

Abstract A colon targeted drug delivery system for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), consisting in budesonide loaded mesoporous silica microparticles functionalized with a selective azo-molecular gate (M-Bud), has been evaluated for in vivo efficacy. Experimental colitis in male Wistar rats was induced by rectal instillation of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). M-Bud was orally administered to the rats as a suspension in water. Colon/body weight ratio, clinical activity score, and histological evaluation were used as inflammatory indices to measure the performance of the microparticles. The formulation was compared with a suspension prepared from the commercial drug Entocord®. Sta…

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Ionic Hydrogel Based on Chitosan Cross-Linked with 6-Phosphogluconic Trisodium Salt as a Drug Delivery System.

[EN] In this work, 6-phosphogluconic trisodium salt (6-PG(-)Na(+)) is introduced as a new aqueous and nontoxic cross-linking agent to obtain ionic hydrogels. Here, it is shown the formation of hydrogels based on chitosan cross-linked with 6-PG(-)Na(+). This formulation is obtained by ionic interaction of cationic groups of polymer with anionic groups of the cross linker. These hydrogels are nontoxic, do not cause dermal irritation, are easy to extend, and have an adequate adhesion force to be applied as polymeric film over the skin. This AWN formulation exhibits a first order release kinetic and can be applied as drug vehicle for topical administration or as wound dressing for wound healing…

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Correlation BetweenIn Vitro,In Situ, andIn Vivo Models

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Mathematical modelling of in situ and in vitro efflux of ciprofloxacin and grepafloxacin

Abstract The efflux process due to p-glycoprotein-like mechanisms of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and grepafloxacin (GRX) has been studied “in situ” in rats and “in vitro” in Caco-2 cells. The results were modelled by a curve fitting procedure which allowed the characterization of the passive (Pd) and carrier mediated parameters (Vm and Km) from the raw data without initial velocities estimation. CIP absorption in rat was characterized as a passive diffusion at the assayed concentrations. Although the involvement of an efflux transporter cannot be ruled out, its relevance in the transport of the fluoroquinolone is negligible. In GRX absorption, an efflux process is implicated and it is detected in b…

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Combination strategies for enhancing transdermal absorption of sumatriptan through skin

The aim of the present work was to characterize in vitro sumatriptan transdermal absorption through human skin and to investigate the effect of chemical enhancers and iontophoresis applied both individually and in combination. A secondary objective was to compare the results obtained with those in porcine skin under the same conditions, in order to characterize the relationship between the two skin models and validate the porcine model for further research use. Transdermal flux of sumatriptan was determined in different situations: (a) after pre-treatment of human skin with ethanol, Azone (1-dodecyl-azacycloheptan-2-one), polyethylene glycol 600 and R-(+)-limonene, (b) under iontophoresis a…

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N-Succinyl-chitosan systems for 5-aminosalicylic acid colon delivery: In vivo study with TNBS-induced colitis model in rats

5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) loaded N-Succinyl-chitosan (SucCH) microparticle and freeze-dried system were prepared as potential delivery systems to the colon. Physicochemical characterization and in vitro release and swelling studies were previously assessed and showed that the two formulations appeared to be good candidates to deliver the drug to the colon. In this work the effectiveness of these two systems in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease was evaluated. In vitro mucoadhesive studies showed excellent mucoadhesive properties of both the systems to the inflamed colonic mucosa. Experimental colitis was induced by rectal instillation of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNB…

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New Insights of Oral Colonic Drug Delivery Systems for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Therapy

[EN] Colonic Drug Delivery Systems (CDDS) are especially advantageous for local treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Site-targeted drug release allows to obtain a high drug concentration in injured tissues and less systemic adverse effects, as consequence of less/null drug absorption in small intestine. This review focused on the reported contributions in the last four years to improve the effectiveness of treatments of inflammatory bowel diseases. The work concludes that there has been an increase in the development of CDDS in which pH, specific enzymes, reactive oxygen species (ROS), or a combination of all of these triggers the release. These delivery systems demonstrated a th…

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Development and evaluation of occlusive systems employing polyvinyl alcohol for transdermal delivery of sumatriptan succinate

The aim of the present study was to develop a sumatriptan succinate transdermal system for applying migraine treatments efficiently and easily. For this system polyvinyl alcohol was employed as a matrix and Azone((R)) was added as a permeability enhancer. The physical characteristics, mechanical properties, and in vivo bioadhesion of the systems were evaluated, as was in vitro permeation across porcine skin. A uniform distribution of the drug in the matrix was observed, and moisture uptake values were constant. With regard to mechanical parameters, occlusive layer inclusion made the system more resistant, and no significant differences were detected with respect to other systems. Although A…

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Relationship between rheological properties, in vitro release and in vivo equivalency of topical formulations of diclofenac.

Determination of bioequivalence remains a challenge in generic topical drug development. To support pharmacokinetic studies, strategies to demonstrate microstructure sameness of the products being compared include in vitro evaluations, such as the comparison of rheological properties, droplet size and in vitro release rates. Nevertheless, defining the appropriate acceptance range to consider equivalence between test and reference formulation is complex. To shed more light into this issue, in vitro release and rheological properties were compared to in vivo bioequivalence data (systemic blood measurements within a clinical trial) after topical application of a single dose. Test and reference…

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Impact of nutritional status on the pharmacokinetics of erlotinib in rats

Malnourishment is a complex condition in which physiopathological changes take place in multiple systems as a result of energy, protein and nutrient deficiency. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, using an experimental animal model, the impact of nutritional status on the pharmacokinetic profile of erlotinib, a reversible, highly selective, human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER1/EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Two groups of rats -WN (well-nourished) and UN (undernourished) - were fed with different diets for 23-26 days. Rats were assigned randomly to one of three erlotinib treatments (n = 42) consisting of a single dose administered intravenously (i.v.), via oral solution or v…

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A preclinical study to model taurine pharmokinetics in the undernourished rat

AbstractMalnutrition is a common feature of chronic and acute diseases, often associated with a poor prognosis, including worsening of clinical outcome, owing, among other factors, to dysfunction of the most internal organs and systems affecting the absorption, metabolism and elimination of drugs and nutrients. Taurine is involved in numerous biological processes and is required in increased amounts in response to pathological conditions. The aim of this study was to describe the behaviour of taurine in well-nourished (WN) rats and to analyse the influence of protein–energy undernutrition on the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of taurine, using a PK model. Wistar rats were randomly distribu…

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Validation of a biophysical drug absorption model by the PATQSAR system

Absorption rate constants (in situ rat gut technique) and in vitro antibacterial activities of twenty fluoroquinolones have been evaluated. A biophysical model that relates the absorption of the compounds with their lipophilicity was fitted. The model considers the absorption process from the intestinal lumen as the sum of two resistances in series: aqueous diffusional barrier and lipoidal membrane. Even if partitioning into the membrane and membrane diffusion are both enhanced for lipophilic compounds, the absorption rate constant is limited by the aqueous diffusion. To estimate the influence of structural modifications on each property and to establish the role of lipophilicity in control…

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Mesoporous silica microparticles gated with a bulky azo derivative for the controlled release of dyes/drugs in colon.

[EN] Mesoporous silica microparticles were prepared, loaded with the dye safranin O (M-Saf) or with the drug budesonide (M-Bud) and capped by the grafting of a bulky azo derivative. Cargo release from M-Saf at different pH values (mimicking those found in the gastrointestinal tract) in the absence or presence of sodium dithionite (a reducing agent mimicking azoreductase enzyme present in the colon) was tested. Negligible safranin O release was observed at pH 6.8 and 4.5, whereas a moderate delivery at pH 1.2 was noted and attributed to the hydrolysis of the urea bond that linked the azo derivative onto the external surface of the inorganic scaffold. Moreover, a marked release was observed w…

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High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of sumatriptan after in vitro transdermal diffusion studies.

A simple, accurate, precise and rapid HPLC method with UV detection has been validated in order to determine the in vitro transdermal absorption of sumatriptan succinate. The HPLC method is a modification of that described by Nozal et al. [M.J. Nozal, J.L. Bernal, L. Toribio, M.T. Martin, F.J. Diez, J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 30 (2002) 285-291]. Separation was carried out on a 250 mm Kromasil C18 column at room temperature. The detector response, at 282.7 nm, was found to be linear in a concentration range between 0.145 and 145 microM. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.019 microM and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.145 microM.

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Effects of Ethanol on Intestinal Absorption of Drugs

The effect of chronic alcohol intake on the intestinal absorption of seven compounds belonging to a homologous series (ciprofloxacin derivatives) was evaluated using an in situ rat gut technique that measures the intrinsic absorption rates of the compounds both in control and chronic alcohol-fed rats. For chronic alcohol treatment, the animals were fed a liquid diet containing ethanol (36% of calories), whereas an isocaloric diet was given to the pair-fed control animals. The biophysical absorption model, relating the intestinal absorption rate constants and partition indexes of the tested compounds, was then established either for control or alcohol-fed animals. Differences were analyzed a…

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Bioadhesive monolayer film for the in vitro transdermal delivery of sumatriptan

The work presented here aims to develop a bioadhesive monolayer film containing sumatriptan as adjuvant for the treatment of headache pain in a severe migraine attack. Permeation experiments were performed from the films prepared and from the respective solution, to evaluate the relevant permeation parameters. The effect of the penetration enhancers Transcutol, 2-pyrrolidone, and polyethylene glycol 600 was evaluated. The results obtained show that Transcutol and 2-pyrrolidone decreased sumatriptan permeation from solution, whereas a modest increase was produced by polyethylene glycol 600. The enhancers produced the same effects when they were included in the film. Compared to solution, the…

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Design, characterization and in vitro evaluation of 5-aminosalicylic acid loaded N-succinyl-chitosan microparticles for colon specific delivery

The objective of this study was to prepare NS-chitosan microparticles for the delivery of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) to the colon. Microparticles can spread out over a large area of colon allowing a more effective local efficacy of 5-ASA. N-Succinyl-chitosan was chosen as carrier system because of its excellent pharmaceutical properties in colon drug targeting such as poor solubility in acid environment, biocompatibility, mucoadhesive properties, and low toxicity. It was prepared by introducing succinic group into chitosan N-terminals of the glucosamine units. 5-ASA loaded NS-chitosan microparticles were prepared using spray-drying. As a control, a matrix obtained by freeze-drying techni…

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Investigation of Different Iontophoretic Currents Profiles for Short-Term Applications in Cosmetics.

[EN] This study aimed at investigating the effect of electrical current profile upon the iontophoretic transport of (i) ascorbic acid (AA) and (ii) ellagic acid (EA), into porcine skin in vitro, and the impact of the physicochemical properties of both actives on their mechanism of transport when formulated in cosmetic compositions. The experiments were performed using a proprietary iontophoretic device containing a roller to apply the formulation. Three current profiles were tested: (i) galvanic direct current (DC), (ii) square unipolar pulse current (SPC), and (iii) galvanic direct current (DC) + pulse current (PC). The skin samples were collected at different sampling points, extracted an…

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Intrinsic Absolute Bioavailability Prediction in Rats Based on In Situ Absorption Rate Constants and/or In Vitro Partition Coefficients: 6‐Fluoroquinolones

A preliminary study attempting to predict the intrinsic absolute bioavailability of a group of antibacterial 6-fluoroquinolones-including true and imperfect homologues as well as heterologues-was carried out. The intrinsic absolute bioavailability of the test compounds, F, was assessed on permanently cannulated conscious rats by comparing the trapezoidal normalized areas under the plasma concentration-time curves obtained by intravenous and oral routes (n = 8-12). The high-performance liquid chromatography analytical methods used for plasma samples are described. Prediction of the absolute bioavailability of the compounds was based on their intrinsic rat gut in situ absorption rate constant…

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The dopamine uptake inhibitor 3 alpha-[bis(4'-fluorophenyl)metoxy]-tropane reduces cocaine-induced early-gene expression, locomotor activity, and conditioned reward.

Benztropine (BZT) analogs, a family of high-affinity dopamine transporter ligands, are molecules that exhibit pharmacological and behavioral characteristics predictive of significant therapeutic potential in cocaine addiction. Here, we examined in mice the effects of 3 alpha-[bis(4'-fluorophenyl)metoxy]-tropane (AHN-1055) on motor activity, conditioned place preference (CPP) and c-Fos expression in the striatum. AHN-1055 produced mild attenuation of spontaneous locomotor activity at a low dose (1 mg/kg) and weak stimulation at a higher dose (10 mg/kg). In parallel, the BZT analog significantly increased c-Fos expression in the dorsolateral caudoputamen at the high dose, whereas producing ma…

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Compared effects of synthetic and natural bile acid surfactant on xenobiotic absorption. II. Studies with sodium glycocholate to confirm a hypothesis

Abstract The effects of sodium glycocholate (SGC) on the intestinal absorption of drug-related xeriobiotics are investigated, on the basis of previously established absorption/partition relationships. Six phenylalkylcarboxylic acids, closely related to nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs in structure and constituting a true homologous series, were used as test compounds through an in situ rat gut technique, using the whole colon as nonspecialized absorption membrane model. Whereas the synthetic surfactants (i.e., polysorbates and laurylsulphates) at the critical micelle concentration have been shown to disrupt the aqueous boundary layer adjacent to the membrane, SGC does not; in contrast, it…

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Alternative Methods to Animal Testing in Safety Evaluation of Cosmetic Products

Abstract This chapter reviews alternative methods recommended for animal testing in various toxicological areas. An alternative model to achieve complete animal replacement for acute toxicity testing is not possible. Skin corrosion/irritation alternative methods have been validated and accepted. For eye irritation testing, no single method is able to replace the Draize rabbit eye test. Skin sensitization methods imply refinement and reduction of numbers of animals. An in vitro dermal absorption test could be an alternative to in vivo testing. There are no generally accepted alternative methods to replace the usual repeated-dose toxicity in vivo assays. To determine the genotoxic and mutagen…

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Development and In Vitro Evaluation of Lyotropic Liquid Crystals for the Controlled Release of Dexamethasone.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:33:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-08-02 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) In this study, amphiphilic polymers were investigated as biomaterials that can control dexamethasone (DXM) release. Such materials present interfacial properties in the presence of water and an oily phase that can result in lyotropic liquid crystalline systems (LLCS). In addition, they can form colloidal nanostructures similar to those in living organisms, such as bilayers and hexagonal and cubic phases, which can be exploited to solubilize lipophilic drugs to sustain their release and enhance bioavailability. It was…

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Pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and absorption of flumequine in the rat.

Abstract The study demonstrates that the oral extent of bioavailability of flumequine in the rat, relative to the intravenous injection, is complete (0.94±0.04) and not significantly different from that found by the intraduodenal route (0.95±0.04). The rate of oral bioavailability, however, is slow ( k a =1.20±0.07 h −1 ; T max =2.0 h), but enough to maintain plasma levels above the minimal inhibitory concentration of the most common pathogens for an extended period of time (about 10 h). The reason for the oral absorption slowness could be a slow gastric emptying, an adsorption to the gastric mucosae, a precipitation in the gastric medium or any other feature concerning the stomach as the i…

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Supplementary Material from Mesoporous silica microparticles gated with a bulky azo derivative for the controlled release of dyes/drugs in colon

Mesoporous silica microparticles were prepared, loaded with the dye safranin O (M-Saf) or with the drug budesonide (M-Bud) and capped by the grafting of a bulky azo derivative. Cargo release from M-Saf at different pH values (mimicking those found in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT)) in the absence or presence of sodium dithionite (a reducing agent mimicking azoreductase enzyme present in the colon) was tested. Negligible safranin O release was observed at pH 6.8 and 4.5, whereas a moderate delivery at pH 1.2 was noted and attributed to the hydrolysis of the urea bond that linked the azo derivative onto the external surface of the inorganic scaffold. Moreover, a marked release was observed …

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Impact of Undernutrition on the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Anticancer Drugs: A Literature Review

The etiology of undernourishment in cancer patients is multifactorial: tumor-related mechanisms (such as obstruction, metabolic abnormalities, and functionality changes) in addition to the influence of anticancer therapies, which can induce or worsen undernutrition. The evident role of undernutrition in cancer treatment outcomes suggests the need of considering nutritional status when evaluating anticancer drugs. In order to merge the available data and offer researchers and clinicians a global view of this phenomenon, the present manuscript reviews on a drug-by-drug basis the undernutrition-related pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic aspects of anticancer treatments. This review notes inte…

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Transdermal nortriptyline hydrocloride patch formulated within a chitosan matrix intended to be used for smoking cessation.

The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize both physically and biopharmaceutically, a nortriptyline hydrochloride (NTP-HCl) patch formulated in chitosan.16 g of each chitosan patch formulation (I, II and III, see Table 1 ) was poured onto rectangular glass plates (64 cm²) at a height of 1 mm and dried for 24 h at room temperature. In order to characterize the chitosan patches, polarized microscopy, in vitro skin permeation studies by passive diffusion and iontophoresis and rheological and bioadhesion studies were performed.Polarized microscopy revealed the absence of aggregates and crystal forms of NTP-HCl in all transdermal patches after 30 days of storage. The rheological behav…

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Progress in the development of early diagnosis and a drug with unique pharmacology to improve cancer therapy

Cancer continues to be one of the major health and socio-economic problems worldwide, despite considerable efforts to improve its early diagnosis and treatment. The identification of new constituents as biomarkers for early diagnosis of neoplastic cells and the discovery of new type of drugs with their mechanistic actions are crucial to improve cancer therapy. New drugs have entered the market, thanks to industrial and legislative efforts ensuring continuity of pharmaceutical development. New targets have been identified, but cancer therapy and the anti-cancer drug market still partly depend on anti-mitotic agents. The objective of this paper is to show the effects of KAR-2, a potent anti-m…

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Comparing metoclopramide electrotransport kinetics in vitro and in vivo.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the transdermal iontophoretic delivery of metoclopramide and to determine (i) the dependence of electrotransport on current density and drug concentration, (ii) the relative contributions of electromigration and electroosmosis and (iii) the feasibility of administering therapeutic amounts of drug, using a drug-sparing iontophoretic configuration. Iontophoretic delivery of metoclopramide (MCL) across dermatomed porcine ear skin was investigated in vitro as a function of concentration (10, 20, 40, 80 and 100mM) and current density (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3mAcm(-2)) using vertical flow-through diffusion cells. In vivo studies were performed in Wistar rats (4…

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Noninvasive sampling of phenylalanine by reverse iontophoresis.

While iontophoresis is typically associated with drug delivery across the skin, the symmetry of the technique permits its application to the essentially noninvasive withdrawal of biologically important analytes from the subcutaneous space to the body's surface. The identification of other substances which can be monitored by this procedure, and to its optimization and development as a more general clinical chemistry tool, is a long-term objective. In this paper, we describe a preliminary in vitro investigation into the feasibility of extracting and analyzing the amino acid, phenylalanine, with the ultimate aim to develop a diagnostic test for phenylketonuria, a potentially fatal metabolic d…

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Sumatriptan Succinate Transdermal Delivery Systems for The Treatment of Migraine

We have successfully obtained sumatriptan transdermal systems with different polymer compositions: methyl cellulose (MC), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and a polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) mixture. The systems contained 1,2-propylenglycol (MC) or sorbitol as a plasticizer (PVP and PVP-PVA), methacrylate copolymer as an adhesive agent, and an occlusive liner. Azone (5%, w/w) was incorporated into all the systems as a percutaneous enhancer. Transdermal systems are thin, transparent and non-adhesive when in a dry state. The permeation of sumatriptan succinate across pig ear skin was studied using the systems prepared. The formulation with MC polymer produced a statistically …

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Using transdermal iontophoresis to increase granisetron delivery across skin in vitro and in vivo: effect of experimental conditions and a comparison with other enhancement strategies.

The objectives of the study were (i) to investigate the effect of experimental parameters on the iontophoretic transport of granisetron, (ii) to identify the relative contributions of electromigration (EM) and electroosmosis (EO), (iii) to determine the feasibility of delivering therapeutic amounts of drug for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and (iv) to test the in vitro results in a simple animal model in vivo. Preliminary in vitro studies using aqueous granisetron formulations investigating the effect of drug concentration (5, 10, 20 and 40 mM) and current density (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 mA cm(-2)) were performed using porcine ear skin. As expected, cumulative delivery in…

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Long-Circulating Hyaluronan-Based Nanohydrogels as Carriers of Hydrophobic Drugs

[EN] Nanohydrogels based on natural polymers, such as polysaccharides, are gaining interest as vehicles for therapeutic agents, as they can modify the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the carried drugs. In this work, hyaluronan-riboflavin nanohydrogels were tested in vivo in healthy rats highlighting their lack of toxicity, even at high doses, and their different biodistribution with respect to that of native hyaluronan. They were also exploited as carriers of a hydrophobic model drug, the anti-inflammatory piroxicam, that was physically embedded within the nanohydrogels by an autoclave treatment. The nanoformulation was tested by intravenous administration showing an improvement of…

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