Oil-in-water microemulsions stabilized by 3-(N,N- dimethylalkylammonio)propanesulfonate surfactants of varying alkyl chain length: Solubilisation of testos-terone propionate.

Solubilisation of the poorly-water soluble drug, testosterone propionate, in co-surfactant-free, dilutable, oil-in-water microemulsions stabilized by zwitterionic surfactants of varying alkyl chain length, namely 3-(N,N-dimethyloctylammonio)propanesulfonate and 3-(N,N-dimethyldodecylammonio)propanesulfonate and containing one of four ethyl ester oils, has been investigated. Both 3-(N,N-dimethyloctylammonio)propanesulfonate and 3-(N,N-dimethyldodecylammonio)propanesulfonate-stabilized microemulsions containing two short chain length oils, ethyl butyrate and ethyl caprylate, while only 3-(N,N-dimethyldodecylammonio)propanesulfonate formed microemulsions incorporating the longer chain length oils, ethyl palmitate and ethyl oleate, albeit to a very much reduced extent. Significantly the microemulsions containing the short chain length oils, ethyl butyrate and ethyl caprylate solubilised more testosterone propionate than the corresponding micelles. However, an inverse correlation existed between testosterone propionate solubility in the bulk oil and solubilisation in the microemulsions, in that ethyl caprylate containing microemulsions solubilised more testosterone propionate than those containing an equivalent amount of ethyl butyrate, despite the drug being more soluble in ethyl butyrate. These results suggest that drug solubility in bulk oil is a poor indicator of drug solubility in microemulsions containing that oil, and whether or not the addition of oil improves drug solubility is dependent upon on how it is incorporated within the microemulsion. The longer the chain length of the oil, the more likely the oil is to form a core in the microemulsion droplet, resulting in an additional locus of drug solubilisation and the possibility of an enhanced solubilisation capacity.

Development and physico-mechanical characterization of carrageenan and poloxamer-based lyophilized matrix as a potential buccal drug delivery system.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES: The buccal mucosa presents a unique surface for non-invasive drug delivery and also avoids first-pass metabolism. The objective of this study was the formulation development of polymeric mucoadhesive lyophilized wafers as a matrix for potential buccal drug delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to develop an optimum freeze-cycle, incorporating an annealing step. The wafers were prepared by lyophilization of gels containing three polymers, κ-carrageenan (CAR 911), poloxamer (P407) and polyethylene glycol 600 (PEG 600). The formulations were characterized using texture analysis (for mechanical and mucoadhesion properties), hydration studies, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), DSC, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: DSC showed the eutectic temperature (12.8 °C) of the system where the liquid solution and pure solids both existed at a fixed pressure which helped determine the freeze-annealing cycle at 55 °C for 7 h. Mechanical resistance to compression, hydration and mucoadhesion studies showed that optimized wafers were obtained from aqueous gels containing 2% w/w CAR 911, 4% w/w P407 and 4.4% w/w PEG 600. TGA showed residual water of approximately 1% and SEM showed a porous polymeric network that made ease of hydration possible. CONCLUSIONS: Lyophilized wafers by freeze-drying gels containing 2% w/w CAR 911, 4% w/w P407 and 4.4% w/w PEG 600 with optimum physico-mechanical properties has been achieved.

Improving drug loading of mucosal solvent cast films using a combination of hydrophilic polymers with amoxicillin and paracetamol as model drugs.

Solvent cast mucosal films with improved drug loading have been developed by combining carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), sodium alginate (SA), and carrageenan (CAR) using paracetamol and amoxicillin as model drugs and glycerol (GLY) as plasticizer. Films were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), folding resilience, swelling capacity, mucoadhesivity, and drug dissolution studies. SA, CMC, and GLY (5 : 3 : 6) films showed maximum amoxicillin loading of 26.3% whilst CAR, CMC, and GLY (1 : 2 : 3) films had a maximum paracetamol loading of 40%. XRPD analysis showed different physical forms of the drugs depending on the amount loaded. Films containing 29.4% paracetamol and 26.3% amoxicillin showed molecular dispersion of the drugs while excess paracetamol was observed on the film surface when the maximum 40% was loaded. Work of adhesion was similar for blank films with slightly higher cohesiveness for CAR and CMC based films, but the differences were significant between paracetamol and amoxicillin containing films. The stickiness and cohesiveness for drug loaded films were generally similar with no significant differences. The maximum percentage cumulative drug release was 84.65% and 70.59% for paracetamol and amoxicillin, respectively, with anomalous case two transport mechanism involving both drug diffusion and polymer erosion.

Lyophilized wafers comprising carrageenan and pluronic acid for buccal drug delivery using model soluble and insoluble drugs.

Lyophilized muco-adhesive wafers with optimum drug loading for potential buccal delivery have been developed. A freeze-annealing cycle was used to obtain optimized wafers from aqueous gels containing 2% κ-carrageenan (CAR 911), 4% pluronic acid (F127), 4.4% (w/w) polyethylene glycol with 1.8% (w/w) paracetamol or 0.8% (w/w) ibuprofen. Thermogravimetric analysis showed acceptable water content between 0.9 and 1.5%. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction showed amorphous conversion for both drugs. Texture analysis showed ideal mechanical and mucoadhesion characteristics whilst both drugs remained stable over 6 months and drug dissolution at a salivary pH showed gradual release within 2h. The results show the potential of CAR 911 and F127 based wafers for buccal mucosa drug delivery.

Novel films for drug delivery via the buccal mucosa using model soluble and insoluble drugs.

Bioadhesive buccal films are innovative dosage forms with the ability to adhere to the mucosal surface and subsequently hydrate to release and deliver drugs across the buccal membrane. This study aims to formulate and characterize stable carrageenan (CAR) based buccal films with desirable drug loading capacity. The films were prepared using CAR, poloxamer (POL) 407, various grades of PEG (plasticizer) and loaded with paracetamol (PM) and indomethacin (IND) as model soluble and insoluble drugs, respectively. The films were characterized by texture analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), DSC, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and in vitro drug release studies. Optimized films were obtained from aqueous gels comprising 2.5% w/w κ-CAR 911, 4% w/w POL 407 and 6% w/w (PM) and 6.5% w/w (IND) of PEG 600 with maximum drug loading of 1.6% w/w and 0.8 % w/w for PM and IND, respectively. TGA showed residual water content of approximately 5% of films dry weight. DSC revealed a T(g) at 22.25 and 30.77°C for PM and IND, respectively, implying the presence of amorphous forms of both drugs which was confirmed by XRPD. Drug dissolution profiles in simulated saliva showed cumulative percent release of up to 45 and 57% of PM and IND, respectively, within 40 min of contact with dissolution medium simulating saliva.