Spanlastics nanovesicular ocular insert as a novel ocular delivery of travoprost: optimization using Box-Behnken design and in vivo evaluation.

Currently, travoprost is a synthetic prostaglandin F2α analogue used in the treatment of glaucoma, it is delivered by eye drop solution. Due to its very low bioavailability and patient non-compliance, the objective of the current study was to enhance its bioavailability, and prolong its release Spanlastic nano-vesicles gels were designed and optimized using Box-Behnken design. The optimized spanlastic nano-vesicles gel exhibited the lowest particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI) and the highest zeta potential (ZP), encapsulation efficiency (EE) and mucoadhesive strength was fabricated into spanlastic nano-vesicles ocular insert by solvent casting. In vivo studies showed enhanced bioavailability of travoprost spanlastic nano-vesicles gel and ocular insert compared to the marketed eye drops (travoswix®), as proven by their higher Cmax and AUC0-∞, in addition to being nonirritant to ocular surfaces. However, spanlastic nano-vesicles ocular insert showed more prolonged effect than spanlastic nano-vesicles gel. According to our study, it can be suggested that travoprost spanlastic nano-vesicles ocular insert is a novel ocular delivery system for glaucoma treatment.

Gastroretentive Cosolvent-Based In Situ Gel as a Promising Approach for Simultaneous Extended Delivery and Enhanced Bioavailability of Mitiglinide Calcium.

Ion cross-linking in situ gels are novel liquid sustained-release drug delivery systems. These systems are unsuitable for poorly water-soluble drugs such as the novel antidiabetic drug mitiglinide calcium (MTG). Thus, our goal was to assess the possibility of using cosolvency approach in formulating gastroretentive in situ gel of the short half-life MTG to simultaneously enhance its bioavailability and sustain its release. MTG in situ gel formulations were developed using propylene glycol as a cosolvent to dissolve MTG in the polymer solution, followed by characterization of viscosity, gel strength, floating ability, and in vitro MTG release and phramacokinetics evaluation. The optimized formulation (composition: 1% gellan gum, 0.75% sodium alginate, 0.75% calcium carbonate, and 7.5% propylene glycol) exhibited reasonable viscosity but on introduction into simulated gastric fluid, it formed firm gel that floated within seconds over the surface and remained buoyant for 24 h. The formula exhibited in vivo sustained release manner of MTG over 24 h and improved the bioavailability of the drug. Thus, cosolvency presents a promising approach to deliver hydrophobic drugs in sustained-release liquid formulations. These formulations will improve diabetic patients' compliance by eliminating the necessity of frequent dosing with a better disease management.

Amisulpride-CD-Loaded Liposomes: Optimization and In Vivo Evaluation.

Amisulpride (AMS) is an atypical antipsychotic agent used for the treatment of schizophrenia. The effect of different variables, i.e., the type of cyclodextrins (CDs), ratio of drug/CDs, and type of loading on the prepared AMS-CD liposomes (single and double loaded) was studied by applying 23 full factorial design. Double-loaded liposomes are loaded with AMS-hydroxyl propyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HP-ß-CD) in the aqueous phase and free drug in the lipophilic bilayer, while single-loaded liposomes are loaded only with AMS-HP-ß-CD in the aqueous phase. Entrapment efficiency, particle size, polydespersibility, and zeta potential were selected as dependent variables. Design Expert® software was used to obtain an optimized formulation with high entrapment efficiency (64.55 ± 1.27%), average particle size of 40.1 ± 2.77 nm, polydespersibility of 0.44 ± 0.37, and zeta potential of - 48.8 ± 0.28. Optimized formula was evaluated for in vitro release, surface morphology and stability study was also conducted. AMS-HP-ß-CD in double-loaded liposomes exhibited higher drug release than those in the conventional liposomes and in the single-loaded liposomes. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of AMS in optimized AMS-HP-ß-CD double-loaded liposomal formulation increased by 1.55- and 1.29-fold, as compared to the commercial tablets and conventional liposomes, respectively. However, the relative bioavailability of AMS double-loaded liposomes was 1.94- and 1.28-folds of commercial tablet and conventional liposomes, respectively.

Development and optimization of novel controlled-release pioglitazone provesicular powders using 3² factorial design.

This work aimed at studying a novel controlled drug delivery proniosomal formulation of pioglitazone for treatment of diabetes type-2. The effects of independent variables like type of surfactant and ratio of surfactants/cholesterol were studied using 3(2) factorial design. The provesicular powders were characterized regarding their encapsulation efficiency, vesicle size, morphology, and in vitro drug release. The revealed optimal provesicular powder was exposed to stability testing and in vivo performance evaluation. Results showed that F6 was selected as the optimal formulation, and its in vivo hypoglycemic effect on normal healthy and STZ-induced diabetic albino rats was investigated. F6 proniosomal formulation exhibited a significantly higher % decrease (56.18 % for STZ-induced diabetic albino rats) of blood glucose level (BGL) than Actos® (32. % for STZ-induced diabetic albino rats). Higher % decrease of BGL with longer t max and lower AUC0-24 confirms the development of a successful proniosomal pioglitazone formulation.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems of cilostazol for oral and parenteral administration.

The current investigation was aimed to improve the solubility of poorly soluble drug, cilostazol (CLZ). Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) composed of oil, surfactant and co-surfactant for both oral and parenteral administration of CLZ was formulated. The components for SNEDDS were identified by solubility studies, and pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were plotted to identify the efficient self-emulsification regions. The optimum formula, composed of Capryol 90 as an oil phase, Cremophor EL as a surfactant, and Transcutol HP as a co-surfactant in a ratio of 19.8:30.5:49.7 by weight, was able to solubilize CLZ 2000 times higher than its solubility in water. This formula was able to form grade "A" nanoemulsion when diluted with water, resulted in emulsification time of 50±1.1 s, particle size of 14.3 nm, PDI of 0.5 and % transmittance was 97.40%±0.65. It showed excellent in vitro dissolution of 93.1% and 81.5% after 5 min in 0.3% sodium lauryl sulphate solution and phosphate buffer pH 6.4, respectively when compared with the marketed tablet formulation and drug suspension as the tablets showed only 44.3% and 9.9% while CLZ suspension showed 33.9% and 8.8% in 0.3% sodium lauryl sulphate solution and phosphate buffer pH 6.4, respectively. It was found to be robust to dilution, thermodynamically stable with low viscosity values of 14.20±0.35 cP. In vivo study revealed significant increase in bioavailability of CLZ in rabbits to 3.94 fold compared with the marketed tablet formulation after oral administration. This formula could be sterilized by autoclaving and did not cause significant hemolysis to human blood which indicates its safety for intravenous administration with a 1.12 fold increase in bioavailability compared with its oral administration. Our study illustrated the potential use of SNEDDS of poorly soluble CLZ orally, and its successful administration of parenterally when required in acute cases of myocardial and cerebral infarction.