Design of a pilot plant-type pharmaceutical reactor to address the problem of interchangeability of generic semisolid formulations.

OBJECTIVE AND SIGNIFICANCE: This research aims to design and develop a pilot plant-type pharmaceutical reactor with a strong focus on its volumetric capacity and heat transfer capabilities. The primary goal is to replicate design and control strategies at the laboratory or pilot scale to analyze and produce generic semisolid formulations. METHODS: Computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer modeling, utilizing the finite volume method, were employed to determine the reactor's performance and particle trajectory during the mixing and stirring. This allowed for the establishment of optimal operational parameters and variables. Furthermore, prototypes were constructed at 1:2.5 and 1:15 scales to examine the reactor's morphology, ensure volumetric versatility, and conduct mixing, homogenization, and coloration tests using varying volumes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of this study yielded a versatile reactor suitable for processing pharmaceutical semisolids at both laboratory and pilot-scale volumes. Notably, the reactor demonstrated exceptional volumetric capacity within a single vessel while effectively facilitating heat transfer to its interior.

RP-HPLC method development for the simultaneous determination of timolol maleate and human serum albumin in albumin nanoparticles.

An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of human serum albumin (HSA) and timolol in albumin nanoparticles. This method involved a reversed-phase-C18 column thermostated at 25 °C, UV detection at 276 nm, flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and a mobile phase compounded by 0.05% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid in water/0.05% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid in an acetonitrile (40:60, v/v) solution. The elution times for albumin and timolol were 1.84 ± 0.05 min and 2.67 ± 0.04 min, respectively. Calibration curves were linear from 0.2 to 100 mg/ml for HSA and 0.01 to 1 mg/ml for timolol. Limits of quantification were 0.2 mg/ml for HSA and 0.01 mg/ml for timolol. The values of accuracy and precision of intra- and inter-day variation studies were within acceptable limits, according to the US Food and Drug Administration Guidance for Industry. The described method has proved to be useful to give accurate measurements of human serum albumin and timolol from albumin nanoparticles to determine the percentage of encapsulation and the process yield.

HPLC method for the determination of nystatin in saliva for application in clinical studies.

An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed, optimized and validated for the determination of nystatin in human saliva (UV and fluorescence detection). A reversed-phase Luna C18 column (25 degrees C), with a mobile phase of MeOH, H2O, and DMF (70:20:10, v/v/v), and a flow-rate of 0.8 ml/min were used. The elution time for nystatin was 5.8+/-0.2 min. Calibration curves in human saliva were linear from 0.78 to 50 microg/ml. Limits of quantification were 0.78 microg/ml and 0.75 microg/ml for UV and fluorescence detection, respectively. The accuracy and precision values of intra- and inter-day variation studies were within acceptable limits, according to FDA guidelines. The described method has proved to be useful to give accurate measurements of nystatin in real samples.

Drug release from carbomer:carbomer sodium salt matrices with potential use as mucoadhesive drug delivery system.

In vitro mucoadhesion, water uptake, and drug release of nystatin (N) from matrices of carbomer (C) and lyophilized carbomer sodium salt (CNaL) mixtures were evaluated. Matrices with different ratios C:CNaL were prepared by direct compression. Commercial C as well as lyophilized powder (CL) were used. In vitro mucoadhesion increased as the proportion of C in the matrix was raised. The same effect was observed when C was replaced by CL. Matrices in which C was replaced by CL showed an increase of both water uptake and release rates. Besides, the release of N from matrices CL:CNaL exhibited a kinetics with Super Case II (n>1) mechanism. However, for C:CNaL matrices, drug release was slower and exhibited a biphasic profile with a first stage characterized by either an anomalous (n<1, for C>or=50%) or a Case II (n approximately 1.0, C<50%) mechanisms. After that period, the mechanism changed to Super Case II transport (n>1).